Ghost Town: Coventry’s Surprise City of Culture Win
Holly Patrick
hpatr001@gold.ac.uk
Ghost Town focuses on Coventry’s successful bid to host the City of Culture in 2021, and what this will do for the city.
I chose this topic for several reasons. Firstly because, although I’ve lived 92 miles away from home for 3 years now, I still feel a strong sense of regional identity and pride that goes beyond my accent and dialect. I grew up in a small village just outside the city centre, and spent many of my Saturdays in the brutalist precinct. Secondly, because Coventry should be celebrated beyond its resurrection from the Blitz. It has so much more to offer, and someone needs to speak up for it. Thirdly, because I’m not sure if the City of Culture will solve its problems or not.
The City of Culture is designed to boost the winner’s social and economic status, giving them a chance to host the most important cultural events in the calendar. But there is unrest amongst the residents – and debatearound who it will really benefit – so how will it unfold in the journey to 2021?