Devon Chamber of Commerce is backing Plymouth’s bid for UK City of Culture 2029, highlighting the significant opportunities this prestigious title could bring to businesses across the city and the wider Devon region.
Awarded every four years, the title comes with £10 million in funding for a year-long programme of arts and culture, and has a proven record of driving investment, tourism, and long-term economic growth in host cities.
The bid represents a transformative moment for Plymouth and the region. Securing the title would allow the city to celebrate its unique coastal identity, rich heritage, and creative talent on a national stage.
It would also support broader city and regional ambitions, including regeneration, tourism, skills development, and inclusive growth.
From music, performance, heritage, and visual arts to film, festivals, sport, and community-led projects, Plymouth 2029 would showcase the city’s creativity while providing a platform for new voices, ideas, and collaborations.
Helen Wylde-Archibald, CEO of the Devon Chamber, said: “Plymouth City of Culture 2029 offers an incredible opportunity to the business community. We know the multiplier effect the cultural sector can have on sectors like hospitality, accommodation, leisure and retail, but a national opportunity like this can leverage other investment and partnerships for business. Plymouth’s bid has our full support, and we will be encouraging businesses to get behind it and get involved.”
The prestigious national competition is led by the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and runs every four years. Bradford currently holds the title, with previous winners including Derry/Londonderry (2013), Hull (2017) and Coventry (2021).
Plymouth previously bid for City of Culture in 2017. Since then, the city’s cultural landscape has changed significantly, and it is ready to show the nation what a coastal city can achieve when creativity sits at the heart of its ambitions.
Helen continued: “Cities that have held this title have seen transformative economic benefits. Hull’s year as City of Culture generated over £300 million of investment and attracted 5.3 million visitors, while Coventry delivered £172 million to its local economy and created 1,000 jobs, even during the pandemic.
“This is about more than events, it’s about regeneration, tourism, and inward investment that lasts well beyond the cultural year.
“For our business community, City of Culture status means national profile and visibility. It opens doors for collaboration across sectors, creative industries working with tech, manufacturing, hospitality, and retail. It gives us a platform to leverage investment from government, sponsors, and cultural funds, aligning with priorities like levelling up and innovation. In short, it’s a chance to put Plymouth and Devon on the map as a place to invest, work, and visit.
“And let’s not forget the multiplier effect. Every creative job generates 1.9 additional jobs in sectors like leisure and retail. For every 10 creative roles, seven more are supported elsewhere. For every £1 in GVA, another 50p is created in other sectors. Culture drives growth, it fuels hospitality, transport, and professional services.”
“City of Culture is not just about celebrating who we are, it’s about shaping who we can become. It’s a catalyst for economic growth, collaboration, and pride. Plymouth has the heritage, creativity, and ambition to make this happen.”
The bid is supported by Plymouth City Council and local partners. An initial Expression of Interest will be submitted by 8 February 2026, with a full bid to follow in summer 2026 should Plymouth be longlisted. A programme of creative community engagement will begin in January 2026, ensuring businesses, residents, and communities can get involved and contribute to shaping the vision for UK City of Culture 2029.
Cllr Jemima Laing said: “This is an incredibly exciting moment for Plymouth to show the power of creativity to improve the lives of everyone. This gives us an opportunity to put culture at the heart of our city plans, supporting regeneration, new jobs and investment while ensuring growth is inclusive and benefits communities across the city.
“The City Council has asked Victoria Pomery, CEO of The Box and Head of Culture for Plymouth City Council, and Hannah Harris, CEO of Plymouth Culture, to lead on the bid to become City of Culture. Both are extremely well placed to do so and are at the heart of two of the city’s strategic cultural organisations.”
Victoria Pomery, CEO of The Box and Head of Culture, said: “This is a real now or never moment for Plymouth, a city so intrinsically linked to the UK’s histories. We have spent years building the cultural partnerships and infrastructure that will enable Plymouth to live up to the title of City of Culture, and the timing aligns perfectly with the wider ambition for growth, regeneration and opportunity in the city.”
Hannah Harris, CEO of Plymouth Culture, said: “Plymouth is a city that embraces culture from football to food, Beryl Cook to Joshua Reynolds, history to adventure. This competition gives us an opportunity to show the UK, and beyond, how a key coastal city can use creativity to reimagine its future, amplify the voices of its communities and drive a new form of sustainable regeneration and growth.”
For more information about the bid and community engagement, visit plymouthculture.co.uk/city-of-culture.
