At the first meeting of the year, the chairman Terry Atherton welcomed members with seasonal compliments. The speaker was Paul Schofield, a freelance tour guide in Hull and aided by some wonderful slides and his own knowledge and enthusiasm, he reviewed Hull’s Year of Culture 2017.
When Hull won the right to stage the Year of Culture there was about two and a half years to prepare. The success achieved was by teamwork. No money was awarded, all had to be raised and all sectors, the City Council, Private Companies and the Voluntary sector raised £32 million which was double the original target. Paul praised the BBC for its enthusiastic support and publicity which maintained the project in the public eye.
The City Council had played its part by carrying out major groundwork projects of pedestrianizing Humber Street and other areas, creating fountains and improving lighting and excavating the old city walls on Beverley Gate. Holy Trinity Church had been designated a Minster and major works had taken place inside and outside the building.
The whole project had had a superb start with the “Made in Hull “theme which involved the moving of a wind turbine blade into Victoria Square overnight. It was estimated that 330,000 people visited Hull in that first week.
Paul continued with great enthusiasm and humour to describe events which took place in Ferens Art Gallery, in the railway station, in Zebedees Yard at Trinity House and on the University campus. There were displays of poppies, daffodils made from lego, events to mark the city’s fishing heritage, cultural event in the Hull Truck, the City Hall and at the New Theatre and pop concerts in Craven Park and at Burton Constable Hall.
Paul paid tribute the group of volunteers who had acted as greeters and guides and whose support and enthusiasm had been a great help towards the Year’s success. It has been estimated that the city’s museums have had 1.2million visits during the year. Hull University is now engaged in a survey to determine the success of the Year in terms of numbers visiting and on Hull’s economy. The results should be known in March.
For the future there is a legacy project which among its aims is to achieve a new concert venue and a cruise ship terminal in the next 5 years.
Ken Tunstall gave the vote of thanks for an excellent review, beautifully illustrated and delivered with great enthusiasm.
When Hull won the right to stage the Year of Culture there was about two and a half years to prepare. The success achieved was by teamwork. No money was awarded, all had to be raised and all sectors, the City Council, Private Companies and the Voluntary sector raised £32 million which was double the original target. Paul praised the BBC for its enthusiastic support and publicity which maintained the project in the public eye.
The City Council had played its part by carrying out major groundwork projects of pedestrianizing Humber Street and other areas, creating fountains and improving lighting and excavating the old city walls on Beverley Gate. Holy Trinity Church had been designated a Minster and major works had taken place inside and outside the building.
The whole project had had a superb start with the “Made in Hull “theme which involved the moving of a wind turbine blade into Victoria Square overnight. It was estimated that 330,000 people visited Hull in that first week.
Paul continued with great enthusiasm and humour to describe events which took place in Ferens Art Gallery, in the railway station, in Zebedees Yard at Trinity House and on the University campus. There were displays of poppies, daffodils made from lego, events to mark the city’s fishing heritage, cultural event in the Hull Truck, the City Hall and at the New Theatre and pop concerts in Craven Park and at Burton Constable Hall.
Paul paid tribute the group of volunteers who had acted as greeters and guides and whose support and enthusiasm had been a great help towards the Year’s success. It has been estimated that the city’s museums have had 1.2million visits during the year. Hull University is now engaged in a survey to determine the success of the Year in terms of numbers visiting and on Hull’s economy. The results should be known in March.
For the future there is a legacy project which among its aims is to achieve a new concert venue and a cruise ship terminal in the next 5 years.
Ken Tunstall gave the vote of thanks for an excellent review, beautifully illustrated and delivered with great enthusiasm.