City of Culture: Galway ‘pulls out all the stops’
The City Manager Brendan McGrath is “not contemplating failure” in his bid to secure European Capital of Culture status for Galway in 2020.
Mr McGrath said Galway will ‘pull out all the stops’ in its bid to secure the prestigious title, which he says would be of enormous economic and cultural benefit to the city, county and wider West region.
He said he isn’t contemplating failure but even if Galway isn’t successful, the whole process of applying will greatly enhance its reputation as a ‘World Class’ city.
“If we don’t succeed, the shortcomings won’t be in the bid,” he insisted.
Mr McGrath said once a city becomes a European Capital of Culture, it retains that forever and it has lasting social and economic benefits years later.
During 2020, he said, if successful, Galway would have around 14 ‘marquee’ arts events during including the opening and closing ceremony. The existing arts festivals and events that take place annually in Galway anyway will also be strengthened and boosted by the programme of events associated with European Capital of Culture.
Shortly after Christmas he convened an ‘internal working group’ at Galway City Council to advance the bid.
This week, Galway City Council initiated a public tender process, to procure a team of consultants – experts in the European funding process and experience in developing cultural and artistic programming – who will drive the bid process.
Cork and Dublin have already earned the title and so are excluded from reapplying meaning Galway is competing against Limerick, Waterford and possibly Kilkenny and Sligo for the coveted accolade.
The city narrowly lost out to Cork in 2005 and Mr McGrath, who is only eight months in the job, has made the new bid one of his priorities.
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.