Inverness and the Highlands has missed out on a coveted shortlisted place for UK City of Culture 2029.
Beò! 2029, meaning ‘alive’ or ‘living’ in Gaelic, had been the only Scottish bid to make the competition longlist and the first ever bid to represent an entire region.
Convener of The Highland Council, Cllr Bill Lobban, said: “While we are naturally disappointed that Beò! 2029 has not been shortlisted for UK City of Culture, we are immensely proud of what we have achieved through this journey and the new partnerships it has created. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported the bid, and committed their time, energy and ideas.
“Through the bid process, we have established the Creative Highland board to lead, strengthen and support the creative industries sector, which is the third largest employer in Highland. We have also brought together more than 100 artists, creative practitioners, arts organisations, and cultural bodies through a permanent Highland Cultural Assembly to help shape a shared vision for the future of arts and culture in the Highlands.
“These are important and lasting achievements that will continue beyond the bid process. The momentum generated through the bid will not be lost and the Council remain committed to supporting and working with the Creative Highland board and Highland Cultural Assembly to develop a long-term arts and culture strategy for the Highlands.”
Bryan Beattie, Beò! 2029 Bid Director added: "Of course we are disappointed. But the reason we bid has not gone away. The Highlands is a place of living, contemporary culture, and putting our Bid together has shown just how much talent, ambition and appetite there is here. The partnerships, ideas and confidence this bid has built are too valuable to lose, and we intend to carry them forward."
The bid team will seek further feedback from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and work with the Creative Highland board to set out next steps in the coming weeks.