“Glen Vowles - hanks for the clarification - I did suffer from this confusion but as this is a more modest, UK title, then Swansea has an excellent chance and should make every effort until we get it”

“Glen Vowles, Margam

No confusion on my part! London and Liverpool were still 'Cities of Culture', regardless of a UK or European prefix and they were able to raise their city profiles to wider audiences!”

“Swansea has as much to offer as other UK cities of compatible size. In fact, it terms of the number of quality festivals, the city is surprisingly well represented - The Swansea Festival of Music and Art and complementary fridge festival, Swansea Bay Film Festival and the Dylan Thomas Festival and literary award are definitely of international standard. Yes, the city centre looks tired and worn, but the title is not awarded for architecture, but culture. I'd say go for it.”

“Swansea - Pretty Shitty City

Holley - Off his bl**dy trolly

We'll probably get this, just like the rest of Europe dumped the 2012 Olympics on London!”

“Some posters appear to be confused.
Glasgow and Liverpool were European Cities of Culture, a far more prestigious title than this new scaled down UK version.”

“What has been missed by most comments to date, is that Swansea, like other cities in Wales, had failed to enter the contest and it was the Evening Post that had initiated the interest from Swansea Council! This suggests that our local Politicians, regardless of Party, were asleep in the 'Starting Stalls' for the 'first Furlong' of the 2013 UK City of Culture 'race'! This hardly suggests that our local Politicians are up for this type of Marketing of the Swansea area, in such a high profile event!

Swansea does have the Heritage to compete with other UK cities, in the Cultural arena! The week-end's, Proms in the Park, only demonstrates what Swansea as a Cultural location, can do and which was well attended!

Most major cities, regardless of location, have had booze fuelled 'social' problems and this includes Liverpool and Glasgow, both of which have had successfull stints as Cities of Culture!”

“Having read some of the latest comments here, perhaps my earlier post was too pessimistic. It certainly would be a marvellous achievement if Swansea succeeded in this. Plus, if I recall correctly, the award comes wih a rather hefty grant?”

“the one big thing that swansea does have going for it is potential. so if the bid was based upon and judged upon using the city of culture to give a city a real kick start, fuelling investment and putting it on the map then swansea can offer that. maybe glasgow and liverpool successfull previous bids were based on their past glories, where as a swansea bid could be based more on future potential.”

“swansea has got nothing to lose by bidding to be the UK city of culture as it will at least raise swansea's profile.

swansea has the most dramatic location of any city in the uk, having miles of coastline, beaches and bays with huge expanses of water which other cities don't have. swansea reaches into a national park to the north in the brecon beacons and into an area of outstanding beauty to the west in the gower penisula. swansea is surrounded by some of the most impressive coastline and countryside in britain.

swansea is the regional city of west wales so the whole area could be incorporated into the bid.

swansea has national facilities like the national waterfront museum and national pool as well as other buildings like wales biggest indoor market and the tallest building in wales and the south west of britain.

swansea has hosted national events like the air show, proms in the park and world rally championships.

swansea has already been city of literature in 1995. swansea recently successfully bid for one of the new casino's against over sixty other councils around britain and bid to host the welsh assembly.

swansea has one of the biggest annual arts festivals after edinburgh, two universities, sports clubs, growing marina, parks, gardens, industrial history, cultural heritage, etc, etc, etc

why shouldn't swansea bid ? swansea isn't just about a few scruffy streets in it's centre.”

“The comments above by Dave of Fforestfach says it all. As long as we have people like him about in the city, I won't consider us to have culture of any sort.
To be a city of culture, you don't just rely on past glories of having produced artistic talents. We have to show that we have gained something from the people that have brought various aspects of their civilisation to share with us.

Liverpool was able to do that and that's why they got it. I don't care about the money it will cost in the long run. As long as we can silence the likes of Dave harping on about 'cultures that work around building sites' and not necessarily about the 'vultures' who are content with criticising and watching from the sidelines only and not taking part in the progress by using some of the great cultures that we have the fortune to mix with these days. - Paul.”