The Leader welcomed representatives from Plymouth Culture, Plymouth Community Homes, Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, Theatre Royal Plymouth, and Plymouth Argyle Football Club, and discussed:

 

a)    Plymouth would be bidding for UK City of Culture status for 2029, which represented a major opportunity for the city given Plymouth’s cultural heritage and ambition;

 

b)    The bid would be led by Plymouth Culture, with support from partners across the city. It was emphasised that this would be a whole-city endeavour, not just a Council initiative;

 

c)    The benefits of City of Culture status were highlighted, including national and international profile, economic growth, civic pride, and community cohesion. The Leader referenced the transformative impact on previous winners such as Bradford, Hull, Coventry, and Derry;

 

d)    Plymouth’s cultural credentials were outlined, including the Theatre Royal, The Box, TR2, Market Hall, National Marine Park, and three universities, alongside its rich heritage and creative sector. The Leader stressed that culture was central to Plymouth’s identity and future growth;

 

e)    The bid would build on recent achievements such as Mayflower 400, British Art Show, and major housing and regeneration deals. The bit would act as a catalyst for Plymouth’s ambitions, complementing investments in housing, jobs, and infrastructure;

 

f)     The Leader called for city-wide support, urging partners and residents to ‘be loud and proud’ and to share Plymouth’s story confidently. The bid was seen as an opportunity to unite communities and showcase Plymouth as Britain’s Ocean City.

 

Councillor Laing (Deputy Leader of the Council, and Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care, Culture and Communications) added:

 

g)    The bid represented an exciting opportunity to celebrate Plymouth’s strong cultural assets and creative leadership;

 

h)    Outlined the scope of the UK City of Culture programme, which included arts, heritage, sport, design, gaming, and natural environment, and confirmed Plymouth had a compelling story of ambition and transformation;

 

i)     Highlighted the role of culture in driving economic growth, innovation, and community engagement, and stressed the importance of involving residents and young people in shaping the bid;

 

j)     Confirmed that Plymouth Culture, led by Victoria Pomery and Hannah Harris, would coordinate the bid process and engagement activities.

 

Victoria Pomery (CEO, The Box) added:

 

k)    Welcomed the announcement and emphasised culture as a vital ingredient for civic pride, health, education, and economic development;

 

l)     Outlined the bid process and timeline: Expressions of interests were required by 08 February 2026, and would be longlisted by March 2026 and would be shortlisted and visited later in 2026;

 

m)  Confirmed £10 million funding for the winning city and opportunities to leverage further investment;

 

n)    Stressed the importance of community input and collaboration to make the bid inclusive and representative of Plymouth.

 

Hannah Harris (Chief Executive Officer, Plymouth Culture) added:

 

o)    Reinforced that the bid was part of a long-term cultural strategy published in 2021;

 

p)    Highlighted opportunities to address gaps in cultural provision and improve accessibility;

 

q)    Confirmed plans for sector and community engagement sessions and described culture as ‘who we are and what we do’;

 

r)    Positioned Plymouth 2029 as a chance to showcase the city’s identity and ambition nationally.

 

Michelle Dawson (Executive Director, Plymouth Community Homes) added:

 

s)     Supported the bid as a way to strengthen pride, partnership, and place;

 

t)     Emphasised opportunities to involve residents and celebrate regeneration projects;

 

u)    Highlighted Plymouth’s strong partnership culture and the role of housing in shaping communities.

 

Helen Wild-Archibald (CEO, Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce) added:

 

v)    Presented the economic case for the bid, citing examples from Hull and Coventry where City of Culture status generated hundreds of millions in investment and thousands of jobs;

 

w)   Stressed benefits for business visibility, inward investment, and cross-sector collaboration;

 

x)    Highlighted the creative economy multiplier effect and its potential to boost hospitality, retail, and transport sectors.

 

Kadus Smith (Director of Public Engagement, Theatre Royal Plymouth) added:

 

y)    Focused on sustainability, accessibility, and youth voice as priorities for the cultural programme;

 

z)    Emphasised the importance of empowering grassroots organisations and showcasing local talent;

 

aa)  Highlighted opportunities to engage young people and platform their ideas.

 

Tom Cleverly (Manager, Plymouth Argyle) and Freeman Kevin Nancekivell (First Team Plymouth Argyle) added:

 

bb)Expressed strong support for the bid, citing Plymouth’s passion and pride;

 

cc)  Highlighted the role of sport in cultural identity and community cohesion;

 

dd)Stressed the importance of creating opportunities for young people and attracting visitors to Plymouth.

 

In response to discussion, the Leader concluded:

 

ee)The bid would enhance Plymouth’s reputation and unlock further potential for growth and investment;

 

ff)    The Council had continued to invest in culture despite financial pressures because of its belief in local talent and creativity;

 

gg)  The bid was described as “our time to shine” and an opportunity to make Plymouth’s cultural strengths nationally recognised.