Birmingham has ruled out a bid for the European Capital of Culture crown after deciding the costs outweighed the benefits. The city council will not join the race for the title in 2023, despite losing out to Liverpool in 2008. Birmingham has followed Manchester, which said it was aimed at “smaller cities”.
Selection for the title, which cities hold for a year at a time, begins in 2016 but preparations would have to begin now. Since 2011, there have been two cities each year, with the bidding process beginning roughly six years before they actually hold the title. Birmingham has yet to taste success in such bids, and missed out on the UK City of Culture title in 2013 to Derry…READ MORE