‘New bridge heralds great future’ – Culture chiefs

This weekend's Peace Bridge opening is the start of a "dazzling" future for Derry~Londonderry, the Chair of City of Culture 2013 declared today. Former mayor Martin Bradley asserted that national and international goodwill towards the city was now "tangible".

"Everyone wants to support us," he said. "In these challenging economic times, our changing fortunes, and determination to succeed, serve as a beacon of hope across the world.
"Derry~Londonderry is a city on the verge of greatness. The massive changes that have taken place here over the past twenty years have seen it evolve from a damaged, war-bound town into a pulsating, 21st century cultural capital.

"The city's key physical assets, the River Foyle and our 17th century Walls, which were closed off to business and visitors for so much of the Troubles, have been freed to resume their rightful place in the sun. "And now the city-centre is now opening up in a stunningly elegant fashion, thanks to the magnificent new Peace Bridge and the sublime restoration of Ebrington."

It's a year since Derry~Londonderry was designated the first UK City of Culture, and in the past few weeks the momentum has increased rapidly. In late spring, the body charged with delivering the City of Culture project - Culture Company 2013 - was constituted. And it immediately began recruiting a team, which includes specialists in events-programming, the media, community arts and education.

Culture Company chief executive Shona McCarthy said they hoped to convince the huge Derry~Londonderry diaspora, and the rest of the world, to come to the city to join in its "purposeful inquiry and joyous celebration". She commented: "To that end, we are already putting together a programme for the city that will include: a keynote Sons and Daughters opening concert, featuring a host of the city's international stars and many friends besides; the Turner Prize; the Children's Music Promise which will give every child, in this most musical of cities, the chance to learn an instrument; and a ground-breaking closing pageant, the Return of Colmcille the Peacemaker, centred around our most famous son.

"We are also endeavouring to bring a series of other landmark events to the city, including the All-Ireland Fleadh, a specially-commissioned Field Day play, Radio One's Big Weekend, and the Stirling Prize - plus a multitude of other top-class events from the worlds of drama, music, art and literature. And to kick it all off, in June 2012, we will be staging the Opening Ceremony of the Cultural Olympiad.
"But for our year truly to succeed, it is vital that there is full engagement with the real stake-holders, the citizens of the city. We are planning an open call process to consider ideas and proposals, and we intend to place a huge emphasis also on community and educational programming.

"The whole city is the venue for 2013, and every part of its canvas can be filled with colour and activity. It is up to all of us to make it happen and our collective effort will be key to a lasting legacy."