Leicester 'City of Culture' bid

Children from Leicester High School for Girls have declared their support for the city, following the disappointment of missing out on becoming UK City of Culture 2017.

Leicester lost out to Hull when the decision was announced this morning.

The Mayor of Leicester, Peter Soulsby, has questioned whether Leicester was 'too good' to be chosen as UK City of Culture 2017.

The chief executive of the Big Difference Company and organiser of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival has described the bid process as an 'emotional rollercoaster'.

Geoff Rowe has told ITV News how disappointed he was at losing out on the bid to become UK City of Culture 2017.

A member of the City of Culture board has said that despite losing out on the 2017 title, plans for the city will go ahead anyway.

Fiona Allan, CEO of Curve Theatre, told ITV News that some of the ideas created as part of the bidding process could happen as soon as next year.

The hard work carried out in Leicester during the UK City of Culture bid process will continue, despite missing out on the title, according to the CEO of the city’s Curve Theatre.

The chief executive of the company behind 'Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival also added his disappointment at missing out with the bid:

The leader of Leicestershire county Council has backed the people in the city to benefit from the work put in to the bid:

Leicester has lost out in its bid to become UK City of Culture 2017.

The announcement that Hull has won the title has been made in the last few moments by Maria Miller, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on The Green in Westminster.

Other cities shortlisted for the title were Dundee and Swansea Bay.

Aminata Kamara from the Leicester 2017 City of Culture bid team, on what Leicester can look forward to, and the big-name support already onboard.

A series of major cultural events would be planned in Leicester if it wins the title of UK City of Culture 2017.

The winning city will be announced on Wednesday.

The events planned for 2017 include:

• A city-wide outdoor summer spectacular
• A mass-participation play based on the story of Richard III, to be performed in locations across Leicestershire
• A virtual portal in Leicester Market linking with markets in Poland, India and and Africa
• Several new works from British artist Conrad Shawcross

• Artworks reflecting the stories of market towns and communities across Leicestershire
• Curve Theatre would host a one month residency by the dancer Akram Khan, who performed at the London 2012 opening ceremony
• A series of gigs at De Montfort Hall from artists which have played there through the years

• Exhibition on Roman Britain at New Walk Museum
• Work commissioned from children as young as six
• Enhanced programmes for existing events such as the Dave Comedy Festival, the Mela and the Caribbean Carnival
• Events like Proms In The Park and Radio 1's One Big Weekend would be invited to the city in 2017