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Feature: Hull unveils plans for a year-long party to put city on world map

Xinhua, September 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

The once bustling fishing port of Hull in Britain is not exactly on the international tourist map. But ambitious plans for a year long party unveiled Thursday is about to change all of that.

With a budget of around 42 million U.S.dollars, the city has outlined plans for a year long festival in 2017 as Britain's City of Culture.

Its ambitious program will see 365 days of events and activities aimed at showing off Hull to the rest of the world.

Highlights will include transforming one of Britain's longest suspension crossings, the Humber Bridge, into a piece of music. Opera North will turn the bridge into an "epic musical installation," with sounds that change depending on routes and the climate.

Within the city, the streets of Hull will be taken over by performers and events.

City Council leader Stephen Brady said Hull has not experienced anything like the planned "explosion of culture and regeneration since the 1950s".

"Our vision was to use the city's heritage and culture to create jobs and to put Hull back on the map as one of the great cities of northern England. That vision is fast becoming a reality," said Brady.

The big party starts on January 1 with an outdoor extravaganza using projections and performances to tell the story of Hull.

The seven-day event is called Made In Hull, curated by the Hull-born, award-winning documentary filmmaker Sean McAllister. One of the team organisers, Durham Marenghi, is just back from Brazil after working as lighting designer for the Rio 2016 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

The city's refurbished Feren's art gallery will re-open, exhibiting Pietro Lorenzetti's 14th century masterpiece Christ Between Saints Paul and Peter, following four-year conservation work by experts at the National Gallery in London.

The gallery will also host the announcement of the winner of the internationally renowned Turner Prize competition.

Hull's special year will see leading cultural organisations from across Britain taking part. These range from the British Museum, the National Gallery, National Galleries of Scotland, National Portrait Gallery to the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Martin Green, director of the year of culture, said: "Hull has always had a unique cultural voice and in 2017 it will roar. The spirit, the stories and the talent of this city have inspired this national year of celebration."

"Next year will show the power that art has to bring people together, to surprise and delight, to educate and provoke debate - to transform lives."

Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock said Thursday: "Hull City of Culture 2017 is going to be brilliant. I have no doubt it will attract visitors from all over the UK, and demand people see Hull in a new light." Endit