Who's behind the bid?

‘Southend-on-Sea has an extremely strong sense of identity, and is special amongst UK seaside towns in that it is outward facing towards mainland Europe (with links to Belgium, Holland, Germany and Poland especially), yet it is also quintessentially British. In terms of the visual arts, Southend has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and now boasts a unique combination of organisations that show cutting edge contemporary art by artists with an international profile, artist-run spaces that promote the work of practitioners at an early stage in their careers, and well as educational institutions with a vibrant, bright and youthful determination to provoke debate about the benefits of art and culture. In all, Southend's bid to be Cultural Capital is an intelligent decision for the town currently on the rise.'

Southend-on-Sea, the First City of Culture! And why not? Who is more deserving than Southend?

There is, in Southend, myriad community organisations involved in Arts and Arts Education: dance and drama studios, poetry clubs, literary societies, art clubs, bands, choirs, orchestras, operatic societies, music societies and music schools. Not only is there a wealth of talent emanating from this corner of Essex but there is a huge and growing audience, avid for cultural excellence.

Southend Band

"Commissions East supports Southend's bid to become UK City of Culture.

Commissions East has worked on a series of major public art projects in Southend over the last ten years and is currently working with the Borough Council on their public art programme linked to new developments. These include projects in schools and new housing areas."

Commissions East

"CoExist Arts are proud to back the bid. This would provide Southend with a real opportunity to expand its cultural future".

CoExist Arts, Southend-on-Sea

The University of Essex contributes significantly to the cultural agenda in Southend and is a keen supporter of Southend-on-Sea's bid to become the UK City of Culture 2013. We believe that Southend's status as the UK City of Culture 2013 will provide a platform to showcase and further develop the range of cultural activities that can already be found in Southend to a wider audience. This accolade would also help to strengthen and extend the networks and collaborations which support cultural development and promote expansion of the creative industry sector within the region. Students are keen consumers of culture and such recognition would also attract more students in the future.

Dr Tony Rich, Registrar and Secretary

"As Director of East 15 Acting School, I support Southend's ambition to become UK City of Culture in 2013. East 15 is now well established in Southend and the opening of the University of Essex Clifftown Studios has enabled us to offer a full range of courses from Stage Combat, Community Theatre and World Performance which recognises and responds to Southend's broad cultural asset base. East 15 will work with the Southend 2013 team to put on a programme which will raise Southend's international profile as a centre for performing arts, and which will respond creatively and critically to the theme of the Modern Seaside Experience. Our programme will be ambitious and we will hold performances throughout the town, in the open air, within theatres and in temporary space."

Leon Rubin - Director East15 Acting School

'The Southend Poetry Group supports Southend's bid to become the UK City of Culture 2013. After more than 25 years publishing Southend Poetry, an annual collection of poems by Southend writers, the group is pleased to be associated with the bid and looks forward to participating in events associated with the City of Culture.

The group has maintained a consistent standard that is remarkable for a local poetry group over the years. Its annual collections provide writers with a platform in print, and contribute to the group's aim of making their work accessible to readers, as well as highlighting the breadth of talent in the area.

Adrian Green, Secretary, Southend Poetry Group'

"Southend Adult Community College fully supports the Borough Councils bid to become the UK City of Culture 2013. The College has over 3,500 students enrolled on a wide variety of art, crafts, language and cultural courses. At grass-roots level, we are one of the biggest organisations locally bringing arts and culture to the population of Southend."

Lisa Busby, Marketing Manager