Why do cities compete for cultural titles like European Capital of Culture
and UK City of Culture?
How does the bidding process inform cultural policy and city strategy?

The Cultural Cities Research Network is part of an initial AHRC-funded research project (March 2011-February 2012) exploring what connects cities during the shared experience of bidding for a cultural title like UK City of Culture (UKCoC). The network has brought together shortlisted UKCoC 2013 cities, including Sheffield, Norwich and Birmingham, to consider and debate situated contexts, motivations and expectations; and the impact of bidding on policy-making process, on the role of the creative economy in city strategies, and on connections between different communities. From May 2012, we are now interested in extending the network to include researchers interested in culture-led regeneration and urban cultural development from across disciplines.

We are using this site to share findings - including a report on the network’s first year of activity ‘It’s not the Winning… Reconsidering the Cultural City’ - and to share on-going plans to develop a collaborative research programme linked to the UKCoC programme. Take a look around, and contact us if you’d like to know more.