"Show your love for Portsmouth" Join The News in backing the ambitious bid for UK City of Culture 2029

That's the dream. But let’s not just leave this to our imaginations. Rather than thinking about what Portsmouth might be, it's time to come together - unite as one city - and claim that crown. It’s not like we don’t deserve it.

That is why today The News is officially backing our UK City of Culture bid. But this is more than just a bid - it’s a chance to build an exciting, long-lasting cultural legacy, a time to celebrate our amazing heritage and a golden opportunity to prove to the whole country that we belong on the cultural map.

Here’s why we need to make it happen. And why we call on you to play a part.

To start, let’s just dispel two of the most common myths being shared by the naysayers..

It’s not going to break the bank

Number one: Succeeding with this ambitious bid is not going to bankrupt the city at a time where the cost of living is still a challenge for many of us and the council is not awash with funds.

If (when) Portsmouth makes it onto the longlist of competing cities this spring, the team behind the bid - being marshalled superbly by Portsmouth Creates - will be given £60,000 to develop a fully-formed submission which will hopefully get us on to the shortlist in the autumn. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport - which administers the competition - has done this for the very reason of making it as accessible to all cities as possible.

If we succeed, the city will be given £10m to support all the activities run over the culture year in 2029. This funding has never happened before and is a crucial reason why we can proceed with confidence.

Culture is for everyone

Number two: some say culture is for the elite, it’s not for the people of Portsmouth. No, no. And no again. Culture can be framed in any way you enjoy your life in the city. It can be the meal you share with friends on Albert Road. It can be the discussion about The Traitors you have while grabbing a coffee with colleagues at work. It can be the shared emotional experience enjoyed on a Saturday afternoon at Fratton Park.

It is also everything we can be proud of across the city from our world-class attractions - the historic dockyard, the Mary Rose Museum, the D-Day Story, the Spinnaker Tower - our much-loved venues such as The Kings Theatre, The Guildhall, New Theatre Royal, The Wedgewood Rooms and The Groundlings - to such other treasures as the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum and Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery.

And yes it can cover opera, ballet, fine art…but we all define our own culture.

The pay-off is huge

The size of the prize for Portsmouth is enormous. Winning will deliver a year-long cultural programme that will boost the economy, attract tourism and grow community pride and cohesion.

Simply preparing the bid will help unite the city and put local voices at the forefront of this 12-month celebration

Winning will build a transformational and sustainable cultural blueprint which will leave Portsmouth with a powerful, long-lasting legacy, well after the fanfare of 2029 has passed.

Successfully delivering the bid will ignite civic pride, strengthen community connection and cohesion, generate significant economic growth and raise the profile of the city way beyond our borders, putting it firmly on the map as a premier destination.

And, if we are given the cultural crown, we will be the first-ever City of Culture in the south, following on from Bradford, Coventry, Hull and Derry-Londonderry.

Look at the facts

The benefits of the year are not something to be guessed at - the success of Bradford 2025 has been measured in so many ways and the numbers speak for themselves.

More than 5,000 events were put on and 75% of these were free. These events attracted three million people in person and a 25% increase in footfall in the city centre, while 22 million viewers watched on through the partnership with the BBC.

The year involved 2,700 volunteers and 650 local artists and organisations, while 30 local cultural organisations received investment and 110 grassroots groups were handed grants.

More than 160 schools took part in projects and trips with 2,700 young people attending creative careers events. For wider impacts, 30 creative health projects were run and 65% of suppliers used to deliver the bid came from Yorkshire

Eighty per cent of local residents said Bradford 2025 made them proud of where they live and 70% said the programme of events made them feel more connected to their community. The programme covered all 30 wards of the council area giving every community an opportunity to showcase their rich history and dynamic contemporary culture

Basically, Portsmouth deserves this. Let's ALL back the bid!

To continue the numbers theme…this is an amazing opportunity for Portsmouth which The News is 100 per cent behind.

And today we also urge everyone to join us in backing the bid.

At this stage there is a very simple way of showing the city is united. Spend just 10 minutes of your time this weekend to take part in the UK City of Culture survey which is open until midnight on Sunday. Here is your chance to say what you love about the city and how, by winning, we can make our mark. You will find it here: https://www.research.net/r/UKCityOfCulture

By adding your voice, you will help to shape Portsmouth’s bid. Your views and experiences are essential to its development and will ensure whatever is included is created by voices across our community.

Portsmouth wants to be UK City of Culture. Portsmouth deserves to be UK City of Culture. Let's unite and make it happen.