Hull plans to be world-leading music city

Hull will try again to become a Unesco Creative City of Music after a first attempt proved unsuccessful.

Organisers submitted an initial bid in January by setting out a five-year plan to develop the city into a "global leader" for making and experiencing "quality music".

Councillor Rob Pritchard, who leads on culture at Hull City Council, said they had been "disappointed to just miss out" on Unesco status, but encouraged by "incredibly positive feedback".

An "even stronger bid" for the international scheme, which includes cities around the world, would be submitted in 2027, he added.

The Unesco project aims to promote co-operation "among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development".

Pritchard said: "Second-time bids to Unesco can be more successful, so we'll be working very hard, taking on all the responses, to ensure our next bid is something that will blow the board away."

Glasgow became the first UK city to be awarded the status in 2008, followed by Liverpool in 2015 and Belfast in 2021.

While Hull has given birth to performers including The Housemartins, Mick Ronson and Roland Gift, the Unesco bid sought to present the city as "one of the world's most progressive" in "community-led culture".

Grassroots successes have included the Humber Street Sesh, an annual music festival featuring scores of local acts.

Mark Page, the Sesh director, said Hull produced "some of the greatest talent in the country" and deserved to be "on the map".

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