Chief Operating Officer, Ian Dunn and Louise Coysh, Associate Director, Arts and Culture, represented the University at a recent conference and reception exploring culture in our city.
One of the ‘Cultural City’ conference aims was to establish levels of support for a City of Culture bid for Southampton in 2025 and among the keynote speakers was former BBC Arts Correspondent Rosie Millard, who was Chair of Hull City of Culture 2017.
Louise Coysh said:
“The conference was a huge success and provided a unique platform for Southampton’s cultural community, including graduates, artists, arts organisations, universities and the city council, to come together and explore our aspirations for the city. With stimulation from local and national speakers, the event has harnessed local energy and is a positive step towards developing our shared ambitions for Southampton.”
Pictured: Chief Operating Officer, Ian Dunn (left) with Cllr Satvir Kaur and Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor of Solent University. Credit: Southampton Cultural Development Trust
Ian Dunn said:
“Building on our pioneering history of cultural patronage over many decades, the University of Southampton wholeheartedly supports exploration of an ambitious City of Culture bid.
“As has been demonstrated elsewhere, a successful bid has the potential to provide significant social, cultural and economic benefits not only for the city, but for all of us who live, work or study here.
“With the opening of Studio 144 and the John Hansard Gallery in the city centre, the dynamism of the organisations that support the city’s growing cultural infrastructure and a wealth of creative talent in the region, now is the ideal time to promote Southampton’s potential as a City of Culture.”
The ‘Cultural City’ conference was organised by Southampton Cultural Development Trust in partnership with the University, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton City Council and Solent University.
