Derry~Londonderry well on its way to UK City of Culture 2013!
It was announced in July of 2010 that the Walled City of Derry~Londonderry had won the coveted title of first ever UK City of Culture 2013 and since then, developments have continued to progress at an impressive pace.
A series of milestones have already been achieved; BT has been secured as the premier Corporate Sponsor in a 5 year multi million pound partnership and the planning process for the Cultural Programme during 2013 is also well underway. The Culture Company has been established and has attracted a number of showcase events including a series of Cultural Olympiad events in 2012, WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) international festival 2013 and the prestigious Turner prize 2013. The cultural programme for 2013 will cost approximately £20 million to implement and funding will be sourced from various government agencies, the private sector (advertisers and sponsors), trusts, foundations and ticket sales.
This title is now the catalyst for the transformation and regeneration of Derry, with plans to invest more than £200 million in its infrastructure. A number of projects have recently been completed with many more currently under construction.
The regeneration of the Parade Ground at the Ebrington Military site has begun and aims to create a ‘destination space’ for a range of cultural, leisure and business tourism activities with a standing capacity of up to 15,000 people. The space is similar in size to Trafalgar Square in London and Donegall Square in Belfast and is a major first step in the regeneration of the Ebrington site.
Following a year of great media interest, the city’s iconic Peace Bridge will officially open on 25th June and will be celebrated by an action packed weekend of cultural festivals and events. The new £13m foot and cycle bridge will link Derry’s city centre with the Ebrington Site adding a whole new dimension to the city’s product offering.
There is no doubt the city is in the midst of a transformation and the positive effects are already extremely evident, notably from the Business Tourism industry. The City of Culture accolade has given Derry~Londonderry a unique recognition and has led to an influx of conference enquiries, particularly from the GB market. The city has recently secured a series of high profile conferences and events including the Political Studies of Ireland Association annual conference 2012, the North Atlantic Fiddler’s Convention July 2012 and the Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association annual conference 2013.
The Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau (DVCB) continues to drive Business Tourism to the city and have increased their marketing activities within the GB and INTL markets. DVCB recently launched the new Derry~Donegal Conference Guide which showcases the North West as a prime conference destination and highlights the wealth of resources readily available for hosting successful meetings and conferences in the region – please click on the link below to download your copy.
http://www.ecomags.co.uk/DVCB_Conference_Guide/index.html
DVCB is the lead organisation in promoting the City of Derry and it’s hinterland as a conference destination and a one stop shop offering FREE, impartial advice to assist with all aspects of planning your conference or event including:
• Sourcing venue availability and collating quotations
• Co-ordinating site visits
• Co-ordinating social programmes and entertainment
• Arranging Civic Receptions
• Negotiating accommodation rates
• Providing promotional literature for delegates
• Liasing with local service providers
• Providing transport and access information
For further information please contact Aoife Thomas on Tel: +44 2871 377 577 or email aoife.thomas@derryvisitor.com