"Cultural assembly" planned to support Inverness and Highlands City of Culture bid

Highland Council is proposing to hold a “cultural assembly” to support its bid to win UK City of Culture 2029 status for Inverness and the Highlands.

It is the only Scottish entry on a long list of candidates for the award, with the winner due to be confirmed later this year. The other contenders are Blackpool, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon, Wrexham.

The successful city will receive £10million of UK Government investment to deliver a year’s worth of cultural activities.

The Highland authority hopes the assembly this summer will unite artists, businesses and tourism groups to help shape the bid.

Councillors will be asked to approve the plan at a meeting next week.

The bid focuses on a wide range of themes including the green energy revolution and migration.