It is something of a mystery why being named UK City of Culture is seen in some quarters as a great civic accolade, a glorious first step on the road to social, economic and cultural regeneration. The experience of Coventry (the winner for 2021) reveals the many downsides to winning this dubious cultural prize. It is a cautionary tale of financial incompetence, threats of legal action over unpaid debts and buck-passing over who is to blame.
The UK City of Culture award has from its inception been little more than a joke at the public’s expense
This fiasco has come to light with the collapse into administration of the Coventry City of Culture Trust. The organisation received around £20 million in grants and donations, including £3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £6 million from Arts Council England and roughly £7 million from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. In return, the trust itself generated just £600,000 in ticket sales from the 700 or so events it organised.
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