Our People
Our people are at the heart of our bid to become 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.
Featured Ambassador
This city is bursting with culture, much of it self-made by the people of Southampton, and it will always be home in my heart... Now we have the opportunity to be part of the story of our future city and tell it to the world.”
There’s no better time to bring Southampton something that brings this diverse community together and show us what we have in common not what we have that is different.”
The people in the area deserve to be recognised for the good work they do & to show off the sort of place Southampton is to live.”
Coming from a great port city like Mumbai makes me especially aware of the particular atmosphere of the constant movement and exchange that is at the heart of port cities like Southampton.
This is as much about the sharing and exchange of cultures as it is trade. We as artists want to collaborate and share our work with everyone. And music is the great convening force.”
I arrived in England by ship on the 1st September 1960 as an excited 10 year old and the first place I saw through the cabin porthole was Southampton. Many Caribbeans, now known as ‘The Windrush Generation' settled there and made it their home.
The city is and has always has been a place that has evolved and absorbed different cultures which has created a rich tapestry of diversity that inspires young people to reach their full potential. I feel certain Southampton will continue to do so long into the future, for generations to come.”
There's an enormous amount of creativity and energy. It's Southampton's time to shine.”
The bid will provide the opportunity Southampton really needs in terms of reaching hard-to-reach, diverse groups.”