Bigger issues than City of Culture bid
What's this City of Culture bid all about? Do we win a load of cash or will we be expected to spend loads of taxpayers' cash?
There are far more important things that need to be sorted out in Leicester before bothering about being a City of Culture, which seems to me to be a popularity contest between councils.
It would seem councillors and the mayor are putting this city forward for things they say make a great deal of difference to the city.
Yet I recall Liverpool being a city of culture some time ago. All it seems to have got for its trouble was a concert by Sir Paul McCartney and a load of metal figures on a beach, which contribute nothing to the wellbeing of society in general while quietly rusting away.
If we are, as those involved say, a City of Culture, why is the Haymarket theatre closed and been unused for years?
Why is De Montfort Hall, built as a temporary theatre years ago, still in existence?
Why do we not have a large arena capable of attracting the big and really popular acts, events and musicians to this city, instead of us having to traipse to Coventry, Birmingham and Nottingham?
This bid seems like a waste of money and time to me.
Of course, I shall expect Leicester City Council not to keep us properly informed of events.
They have been rubbish at advertising events in Leicester.
Bernard Fox, Leicester
This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:
Summer bonanza as city to be taken over
by Adrian Troughton
A party programme to make this year's August bank holiday weekend the most spectacular the city has ever seen has been unveiled.
The bumper bank holiday bonanza, which will include the Sky Ride and the Mela, is to be the grand finale to an action-packed summer of fun.
The Summer in the City programme starts in July, with centenary celebrations at De Montfort Hall.
Culture vultures can enjoy a season of events with a Richard III theme, the chance to discover Leicester's art treasures in the newly-renovated Victorian Gallery at New Walk Museum and lots of opportunities to enjoy an event in Belgrave Hall.
The Mela, Sky Ride and the Sports Fest will form part of the City Festival – a weekend of events which also features an Old Town Festival and lots of children's activities in Orton Square.
The events – on Sunday and Monday, August 25 and 26 – will help make it the busiest bank holiday the city centre has known.
City mayor Peter Soulsby said: "This year is an opportunity for us to try out some ideas for a major new event which we hope will become an annual highlight.
"There will be sporting activities, free events for children, and plenty of opportunities to find out more about Leicester's heritage and culture."
On Sunday, August 25, Sky Ride will return on a traffic-free route through the city, with Sports Fest turning Humberstone Gate West into a sporting arena for the day.
Local community and voluntary organisations will be involved, too, with an event called "Our Leicester Day" taking place in the market.
The popular Mela takes over the city centre on Monday, August 26, with live music and dance, a bazaar in the Market Place and stalls in Gallowtree Gate.
A new festival which celebrates Leicester's heritage will bring the old town to life on bank holiday Monday, too, with activities taking place in Magazine Square and the Castle area.
On both days, there will be live music and dance on the Humberstone Gate West stage and plenty of activities for children.
But before the City Festival gets under way, there is a programme of events to commemorate the centenary of De Montfort Hall.
These events include a tea dance with Strictly Come Dancing's Len Goodman on June 16, an outdoor comedy day on July 6, live theatre in the gardens – with Babe The Sheep Pig on July 13 and The Mikado on July 14 – and a concert of popular classics followed by a fireworks display on July 20.
The best of Leicester's music scene will then be celebrated in a two-day event called Simon Says at the hall on July 27 and 28.
Events with a Richard III theme will take place all summer.
A stunning reconstruction of the face and head of the king will form the centrepiece of the Guildhall exhibition, from May 18 until June 9.Details of all the events happening in Leicester this summer can be found at: www.visitleicester.info/ summerinthecity
This editorial appears in today's Leicester Mercury:
City's strong mixture of old and new
What does "culture" mean? We ask the question because Leicester is launching a bid to become the UK's next City of Culture in 2017. We probably all have slightly different definitions of what we mean by the word culture. However, the Collins Dictionary defines it as: "The artistic and social pursuits, expression and tastes valued by a society or class."
The UK City of Culture then should be a place which is able to offer outstanding and highly valued artistic and social pursuits. And, given that this title is a national one, it should also be a place with a cultural mixture which represents and reflects the values of modern Britain.
On any assessment, Leicester has a very strong case.
We have seen in recent months the city's long and rich history gain national attention through the remarkable discovery of King Richard III's remains. Visitors to Leicester can learn about the king's life and death at a pivotal point in history, as well as the archaeological quest to locate his last resting place.
It is a story which has captured the imagination of people across the world and gives Leicester a cultural dimension that few other cities can match.
In addition, Leicester is not only a very old city, but also a very modern one. And this is best reflected in its multi-cultural community.
The city is home to many festivals and events reflecting the diversity of its population. The Diwali festival, for instance, is celebrated by thousands of people from many backgrounds. It is a demonstration of multi-culturalism in action.
There are many other cultural highlights: the huge success of the Curve theatre; Dave's Comedy Festival which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year; the classical music programme and other events at De Montfort Hall; and the dramatic recreation of the Easter story through Christ in the Centre, to name a few.
All of these elements demonstrate a thriving and varied cultural programme which appeals to a broad range of tastes.
Leicester has a great story to tell: through its history; its modernity; and its sheer range of venues and events.
We think the case for it to become the UK City of Culture is a compelling one and we wish all those involved in this bid every success.
Historic city sites open their doors
A house haunted by a mischievous 10-year-old, a hotel which took 200 years to open and the oldest brick building in the city are opening their doors free.
Between September 6 and 9, heritage sites across the city which are usually closed to the public or charge for admission will be open for all to see.
At De Montfort Hall on September 6 and 8, the public will have the chance to go backstage.
Leicester's oldest surviving brick building, Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel, in East Bond Street, was built over 300 years ago. It will open on September 8 and 9.
On September 7 and 9, members of the public might catch a glimpse of a Georgian child ghost supposedly haunting the medieval Wygston's House.
At the restored Georgian City Rooms hotel [photo above], visitors can see the ballroom decorated with classic paintings.
The grade I-listed building was built in 1792. It was intended to be Leicester's first hotel but lack of money meant it had to be sold before completion.
After various uses, it finally became a hotel in 2006, after being restored by Naresh and Sharon Parmar and their son Kiran.
Kiran, 26, said: "People who come here fall in love with the hotel and its great Georgian character.
"It's not as well-known as other heritage sites in Leicester but it is slowly becoming more popular as more people realise it's here."
Leicester Council of Faiths has organised a peace visit tour where people will have the chance to visit different religious buildings.
Ajay Aggarwal, co-ordinator of the council, said: "The open days will be a great way of bringing people from different backgrounds together.
"I had never been in a synagogue until this year and it was such a wonderful experience I think everyone should try visiting somewhere new."
For opening times, see: leicester.gov.uk/ heritageopendays
Leicester Council of Faiths would normally hold the Peace Visit tour on the Sunday of the Heritage Open Days weekend. This year that Sunday (9 September) would coincide with Our Leicester Day in Leicester Market. Last year, our scheduled Peace Visit clashed with Our Leicester Day. As we were committed to Our Leicester Day and didn't know how many people would be attending that event (including the kind of people that we'd normally draw on to support the Peace Visit) we cancelled our tour of some of the city's places of worship. This year, we're holding the Peace Visit on the Saturday, which avoids the clash and allows us to do both.
