This is Our Southampton
Bidding to become the UK City of Culture
We are a city of culture, lots of culture; a city of music, sport, dance, food, heritage, art and theatre.
We’re a city of connections. A maritime city, a meeting point of rivers, a port for a thousand years. Not just a departure point, but a destination, too. Home to people from more than 50 countries. A young, diverse city of culture, lots of culture. A city of innovation and enterprise, home to two universities.
There’s so much to be proud of but there’s SO much further we can go. Which is why we’re bidding to be UK City of Culture 2025. This is a huge opportunity for our city but we can’t do it without you. The bid won’t win without your support. Find out how you can get involved.
It’s time to shout about Southampton
Claire Whitaker OBE, Bid Director
The programme we will shape together will transform the profile and the prosperity of Southampton and use the power of culture to ensure we reach our full potential.
The people of Southampton are at the heart of this bid and we will work together to make a real difference to all. There is such a rich variety of culture in the city that it is the natural focus of a bid. I am proud to be leading this bid and am looking forward to an exciting programme which will achieve a great deal and leave a positive legacy for the city.”
This is a huge opportunity for our city and we want everyone to be involved.
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Southampton is bidding to become the UK City of Culture in 2025. This is a huge opportunity for our city but we can’t do it without you. Our bid won’t win without your support.
We need your ideas and opinions, as well as your creativity. You can begin to tell your story now and help to shape the bid by sharing a photo, story, or video about a place in Southampton that matters to you.
Follow us on social media, use the hashtag #SO25 and #OurSouthampton when sharing, and don’t forget to subscribe to email updates below!
Get behind SO25 and help connect our city with a brighter future.
Our people are at the heart of our bid to become the UK City of Culture 2025.
Drawn from different parts of the city (and some from further afield), they represent the diverse voices and cultures of our welcoming and inclusive city.
I am proud to be an ambassador for Southampton in the bid to become UK City of Culture 2025. I am passionate about our city.
The inspiration for my first album Born To Do It came from experiences growing up in this special city. ”
I am so proud to be one of the Ambassadors for Southampton City of Culture bid.
When I won Master Chef, in all the press interviews, everyone was saying "Oh, so you're from London". I said "No, correction, I'm from Southampton". And I made it a real point that I'm of Mauritian heritage but I'm from Southampton.”
Become one of our partners investing in a city’s future development.
As part of Southampton’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025, we are looking for partners at a range of levels, some offering exclusive sector benefits.
