FIRST MINISTER Peter Robinson, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, British culture Minister Ed Vaizey and Northern Secretary Owen Paterson were among a long list of dignitaries in Derry yesterday to celebrate its winning of the UK City of Culture 2013 award.
“A gift to the peace-makers”, was how a beaming Mr McGuinness described the victory. He had just returned from Liverpool where the result was announced on Thursday night, prompting a euphoric response in Derry.
As usual, there was much talk as to whether it was “Derry or Londonderry” which had actually won. Mr Robinson had the best line on the debate. Mindful of the demands the award would place on Stormont’s coffers he observed it was not so much about “Londonderry but about funding Derry”.
Derry has big plans to exploit the award that will run into hundreds of millions of pounds. It includes investing more than £200 million in infrastructural work including the creation of a “national cultural treasure” at the old Ebrington British army base across the river Foyle where those arrested on Bloody Sunday were interrogated.
The programme for 2013, which organisers say is an expanding work in progress, includes a grand opening concert, a contemporary music and dance festival, a year-long international festival of contemporary visual arts entitled the Interface Biennale 2013, numerous other arts events, and an outdoor water based spectacular pageant on the river Foyle celebrating the return of Colmcille.
It is hoped that the Turner arts competition and the Brit Awards will be staged in Derry during 2013 and there will be pitches to host the Bafta awards and other similar type events. The Field Day company is being commissioned to stage a play “to reflect and address the current cultural state we are in”. Riverdance will be there. The “Derry diaspora” will be invited to visit.
“Similar to how the European City of Culture helped cities like Cork, Glasgow and Liverpool this will have a huge beneficial effect for all of the people of Derry,” said SDLP mayor Colum Eastwood.
Hillary Clinton’s special envoy to Northern Ireland Declan Kelly, who was also involved in the general pitch that won Derry the award, said the US administration would provide practical support to help create that big and deep purse the city will need in the lead-up to 2013.
“This victory is extremely important for the region as Derry/Londonderry’s win will have significant economic impact on all of Northern Ireland,” he said.
Speaking from Washington, he said the award would lead to a massive boost for the city in terms of its economy and jobs.
It is estimated that the award will create 3,000 jobs for the city.