User:Ballpointbiro/Coventry UK City of Culture 2021

Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 is a designation given to the city of Coventry, England between 2021 and 2025 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The designation means that Coventry gains access to funding to improve its infrastructure and arts facilities, and will host a series of events celebrating local culture. Coventry was selected in 2017 to become the third UK City of Culture since the initiative began in 2013.

Background
UK City of Culture is a designation given to a different city every four years by the DCMS with the aim of using the arts to celebrate and regenerate forgotten areas.

Coventry has been a major manufacturing centre for centuries, producing dyes, leather products, cloth, ribbons and watches. More recently it was the birthplace of the mass-produced modern bicycle, then produced motor vehicles for decades. Because of the important role of its factories in the Second World War, Coventry was devastated by bombing raids which destroyed a large number of buildings in the city centre. The city was rebuilt through the second half of the 20th century, but the decline of manufacturing in the UK hit Coventry hard; unemployment and poverty rose through the 1980s. Communities began to suffer as many people sought work elsewhere.

Coventry has produced some of the UK's best known musicians, including The Selecter, The Specials, Panjabi MC and Pa Salieu. It also has examples of buildings from many different periods of British architecture - from the timber framed houses on Spon Street to the Modernist Cathedral of St Michael.

Bidding and selection process
The competition to become UK City of Culture began in January 2017 with an announcement from Matt Hancock, then the Secretary of State for Digital and Culture. Bidding closed at the end of April and the shortlist was announced on 14 July 2017; Swansea, Paisley, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent and Sunderland. Coventry beat the other four cities and towns on the shortlist and was declared the winning bid on 7 December 2017.

Delay
In July 2020 it was announced that the City of Culture events in Coventry would be delayed by five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The opening event Coventry Moves is now expected to take place on 15 May 2021.

Coventry Moves
Coventry Moves is the opening event of the year, which will "see the city transformed, rising from adversity in a spectacular performance". It will be co-directed by Justine Themen and Nigel Jamieson.

Terry Hall Presents Home Sessions
Terry Hall, lead singer of Coventry band The Specials will run a three day music event in July 2021.

Turner Prize 2021
The Turner Prize for visual arts is due to be hosted at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum from 29 September 2021 - 12 January 2022. The four shortlisted artists will present a new work at the Herbert during the year.

Faith
Faith is a 24-hour long piece of theatre that will take place in September, jointly produced by the Coventry City of Culture Trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company. It will consist of a story told through "music, theatre, installation and ritual" with opportunities for the audience to join in.