Competing against Belfast, Dundee, Leeds, and Milton Keynes, Nottingham’s European Capital of Culture 2023 bid team is confident Nottingham’s entry will be heavily supported by people across the Midlands and beyond, and is calling on locals to become Nottingham 2023 ‘Cultural Lions’

Sandeep Mahal, Director of Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, said:

Our bid will be massively helped by being a UNESCO City of Literature. We are proudly strengthening Nottingham’s ties with Europe and in turn enhancing Nottingham’s status as a truly European city. I have no doubt at all that the city can produce the type of extraordinary, imaginative and inclusive programme that can win this competition.

Spearheading the Nottingham 2023 bid is Nottingham’s Strategic Cultural Partnership, with support provided by Nottingham City Council, the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and Marketing NG.