Stirling launches bid for UK City of Culture 2025

Stirling's official bid to be named UK City of Culture 2025 has been launched.

Stirling is one of eight areas going for the title - and is the only Scottish representative.

The bid's been backed by more than 240 local firms.

To mark the occasion, people across the city have been encouraged to send in 25 word poems about the city.

The poems were then displayed on the Wallace Monument in a spectacular light show last night.

Kevin Harrison, Manager of Scene Stirling, which represents the city’s arts and cultural partners, said: “We’re marking this major milestone in our bid journey with a unique experience that celebrates the passion and creativity that can be found in abundance here in Stirling.

"Back in December we invited people to send in their twenty-five words for 2025 and the citizens of Stirling were quick to embrace this creative challenge. We received over one hundred entries from communities across the area, from Fallin to Thornhill.

“What has shone through is the huge pride and deep affection people feel for their home city, communities and the local landscape. 

“Emotions are running high. We know what a massive difference winning would make to our communities, our creative sector and our economy. We want the world to see how special Stirling is and just how much this means to us. 

“We’re ready to deliver real social change for all of Stirling with a cultural programme that makes the arts open to all and creates a meaningful legacy for the city, the rest of Scotland and beyond. We want Stirling to become internationally renowned for its arts inclusivity.”

Stirling Council Leader Scott Farmer added: “Stirling’s bid stems from the passion for culture that flows through our communities, so it’s only fitting that we celebrate the creative spirit of our people in a memorable way as we reach this key stage in the competition.

“There was a fantastic response to this imaginative and collaborative project with people of all ages across Stirling channelling their inner creativity and putting into words what culture means to them.

“The final result is an inspiring and uplifting poem that illustrates the diversity and dynamism of Stirling’s current cultural scene and a desire and belief that we can do so much more.

“Our ambition is to harness this creativity, talent and energy as a catalyst to unleash Stirling’s full cultural potential so we can improve lives of people in our communities and indeed across the whole of Scotland. 

“Projecting the thoughts and hopes of Stirling’s people onto one Scotland’s national treasures is a powerful, visible statement that Stirling is ready to seize this exciting opportunity for the whole nation.”

The poem will also feature on the cover of Stirling’s bid submission, putting local voices at the heart of the city’s campaign to bring UK City of Culture to Scotland for the first time.