BIRMINGHAM BIDS TO BECOME UK CITY OF CULTURE

15-07-2009

Birmingham is aiming to become the first UK City of Culture in 2013 – and the city’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Martin Mullaney wants the city’s blogging community to get behind the bid.

Secretary of State Ben Bradshaw announced a competition among the nation’s core cities yesterday, which he said aimed to build on the “success” of Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture in 2008.

The winning city will have to deliver a “substantial programme” of cultural activity “which leads to a demonstrable step-change in their area, and a lasting legacy”.

Mullaney is determined that Birmingham should win the honour, especially as many in the city felt “we wuz robbed” when the Scousers nabbed the Euro title.

He jokingly suggested – that the unofficial strapline for should be, “Birmingham, It’s Not Shit – It’s Quite Good Actually”.

The echo of the name of a popular local website is deliberate.

“Let’s get the public and especially the bloggers behind this,” he said.

“We’ve got a really vibrant online community, and it would be great if people could work together to promote the bid.”

“We don’t sell ourselves enough, but this is a great opportunity.

Mullaney has also suggested a list of Birmingham icons – but wants Stirrer readers to add their own ideas on our Forum, to get the bandwagon rolling. Feel free to add photos too.

Here’s Mullaney’s selection:

Mini car - designed by Alec Issagonis at Longbridge and built there

Spitfire airplane - built at Catle Bromwich

BSA Bantam motorcycle - built in Small Heath

Rotunda

Selfridges

Range Rover - built in Solihull

Aston Villa football kit and Birmingham City football kit

Odeon cinemas - started in Birmingham by Oscar Deutsch, who was born here. Odeon is claimed to mean Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation

TISWAS

Football referee whistle - designed by Joseph Hudson in the Jewellery Quarter

Wimbledon ladies singles trophy - manufactured in the Jewellery Quarter

Lonsdale and Commonwealth boxing belts are still manufacture by Thona Fattorini Ltd in the Jewellery Quarter

JRR Tolkien - lived in Moseley

Sir Michael Balcon - born in Birmingham - grandfather of Daniel Day Lewis - film producer at Ealing studio - Sgt George Dixon of Dixon of Dock Green named after Michael Balcon's school

Jasper Carrott

Duran Duran

Black Sabbath and Ossy Osbourne

UB40

Ocean Colour Scene

Ruby Turner

Joan Armatrading - moved to Birmingham from Saint Kitts aged 7

Benjamin Zaphaniah

You can now upload your images of Birmingham Icons on to The Stirrer Forum within your posts - See here