After Lancashire's last minute application to become UK City of Culture 2025, the team behind the bid are putting out a final call for programme proposals.
The team at Lancashire 2025 has been discussing and receiving programme proposals from a wide range of individuals, organisations and partnerships, and now they are asking creatives from all disciplines to find high profile events, creative projects or cultural experiences that reimagine the way we live, based on the Lancashire 2025 bid topics of 'living, connection, nature and digital'.
Anyone who is inspired be part of the county’s vision of the Virtual City of Lancashire and wants to contribute could be awarded up to £25,000 to research and develop their proposal, supported by the experienced Lancashire 2025 team.
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And with just over a month before the deadline Debbi Lander, director of Lancashire 2025, is urging those still interested in being part of the bid programme to make contact soon.
Ms Lander said: “The Lancashire 2025 team has had many positive discussions with individuals, organisations and partnerships keen to develop the programme in an array of locations across the county, some in venues and exciting places we ourselves could never have imagined.
“It is incredible to see the county’s creativity ignited by the idea of the virtual city of Lancashire and to hear of the ways that people are reimagining the spaces, physical, imagined and virtual, in which we now live.
“Given the opportunity to create a virtual city, from the foundations up, all successful submissions will have a digital element, opening Lancashire 2025 to a worldwide audience; a showcase for a virtual city of Lancashire - a city founded on creative citizens, new ideas and partnerships for cultural regeneration”
Ms Lander believes there are undiscovered creative talents in Lancashire that may need some final encouragement or guidance to seize this exciting opportunity.
She added: “If you have a new idea, an existing project, a project in the pipeline, creative or strategic programmes related to culture at any stage of planning, development or funding that suits the vision, programme and timeline of Lancashire 2025, we’d like you to let us know about it by submitting a proposal to this call out.
“There is still plenty of time to discuss your ideas, to plan and submit a great proposal and we have a very experienced and friendly team that is keen to support and encourage you towards that goal.
"Your contribution could make a huge difference to Lancashire 2025 City of Culture bid and give you a potentially life-changing experience.
“Creativity is not the privilege of artists; we believe that it can be found in the imaginations of all people and in all places.”
The application to become City of Culture 2025 was supported by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council leader Mohammed Khan CBE as well as the leaders of Blackpool and Preston City Councils and the Lancashire Enterprise Board.
It did not receive the the backing of Lancashire County Council after weeks of discussion between the partners.
The Bid programme call out is open to artists, producers, curators, cultural organisations, local authorities, creative businesses, cultural partnerships, consortia, with all sectors and locations eligible to apply.
The deadline for applications is Tuesday August 31.
A long list will be announced by the end of September and a subsequent shortlist, selected by a group of experienced creative and cultural professionals, evaluated during October.
After this process the public will then be invited to vote for their favourites before a jury panel will make a final selection in November.
Successful proposals will form part of the Lancashire 2025 final bid application which will be submitted in January 2022.
For those new to submitting programme ideas or to the open call process, speak directly to the Lancashire 2025 team who can offer valuable help and advice.
For more information and contact details for the Lancashire 2025 team go to lancashire2025.com/get-involved.
Follow for all the latest news on twitter @Lancashire2025 or on LinkedIn/Lancashire2025
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