BUSINESSES URGED TO BACK THE BID

Stirling’s vibrant arts and cultural scene is being showcased by The Thistles Community Gallery.

Businesses across Scotland are being urged to show their support for Stirling’s bid for UK City of Culture 2025.

Of the eight places on the UK Government’s longlist for the 2025 title, Stirling is the only successful Scottish applicant; with the winner set to be declared next spring.

Stirling’s bid is for the whole area. Both urban and rural communities will benefit from the title.

From today (22 Dec), businesses can head to Stirling2025.com to back Stirling’s title bid.

By pledging their support, businesses will have their name and logo displayed on the site, where they’ll also find the latest info on Stirling’s bid.

A gallery of images showcasing Stirling's arts and cultural scene has also gone display in The Thistles shopping centre to encourage local people and businesses to back the bid.

The bid has taken over The Thistles Community Gallery this winter to inspire local support.

Stirling Council Leader Cllr Scott Farmer and Chair of the City of Culture Bid Steering Group, said: “Securing UK City of Culture status is proven to attract significant investment and represents a fantastic opportunity for businesses in the area and indeed across the whole of Scotland.

“Stirling’s bid will be a catalyst for economic growth, inclusion and regeneration in Stirling and beyond. It will provide a huge boost to the area’s wider cultural ambitions, increasing tourism and enhancing the profile of the area nationally and internationally.

“The voice of businesses will be crucial to the success of the bid, so please sign up and support our ambitions for culture and creativity.”

Stirling’s City of Culture bid is being led by Stirling Council in conjunction with Scene Stirling, a place partnership involving Stirling’s arts, education, heritage and cultural organisations (Artlink Central, Macrobert, The Engine Shed, Creative Stirling, Stirling University, Big Noise, Stirling Smith, Forth Valley College Creative Industries, Go Forth – Business Improvement District and Stirling Council).

Stirling Makar Laura Fyfe is inviting locals to submit their 25 words for 2025.

The announcement comes on the back of the launch of a creative challenge, in which everyone across Stirling is invited to unleash their creativity and share their 25 words for ’25.

Stirling Makar Laura Fyfe is seeking 25-word contributions from local people for a collective poem celebrating Stirling’s rich culture and creative spirit, marking the city’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025. 

Aspiring poets will have until Friday 7 January 2022 to submit their entry at www.scenestirling.com/twentyfivewords, or by writing to Stirling Makar, c/o Central Library, 3 Corn Exchange Rd, Stirling FK8 2HX.

For more information on Stirling’s bid, head to: www.stirling2025.com

For Stirling City of Culture 2025 media enquiries email communications@stirling.gov.uk or lesley.wilkinson@stirlingpr.com