As Southampton celebrates making it on to the shortlist to become City of Culture 2025, Lee Peck Media has delivered high impact exposure across digital, TV, radio, and print media.
The agency secured coverage on both local and regional platforms – off and online – including BBC South Today, ITV Meridian, BBC Radio Solent, Wave FM, and Southern Daily Echo. Central to the exposure was a number of high-profile media interviews with Bid Director, Claire Whitaker.
Lee Peck, founder of Lee Peck Media, said: “We are proud to deliver PR for Southampton 2025 as they continue to make huge steps towards becoming UK City of Culture, Reaching the last four, alongside Bradford, Durham and Wrexham, is a huge achievement.
“We would like to give a huge thank you to the regional and local media outlets that have shown immense support including BBC South Today, ITV Meridian, BBC Radio Solent, Southern Daily Echo, Awazz FM Radio, Our Version Media, Unity 101 Community Radio, Voice FM, We Make Southampton CIC, Wave 105 and Heart FM South Coast.”
Southampton 2025 has announced plans to host a spectacular opening celebration on land, sea, and air if the city wins the coveted title of UK City of Culture 2025.
Claire Whitaker OBE, Director of Southampton UK City of Culture 2025 Bid, said: “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to so many people for the achievement of winning a place on this shortlist. Three years of sustained work and thousands of people supporting us – not just in the communities of Southampton but across the wider Solent region. The bid has brought the city together, embracing the world of creators, children and young people, artists, academics, businesses and civic leaders. This is a moment of celebration for all of us.
“Southampton is undeniably a great British city. It is the nation’s front door. We’ve built and developed our maritime industry, put sport on the international stage, developed our cultural sector and throughout the years are known as a welcoming City of Sanctuary.
“In Southampton we are uniquely positioned, facing outwards to the world. A world in which collaboration, co-operation and partnership are needed more than ever.
“The engine of this country’s recovery in a fragile world will be the spirit and dynamism of people. And culture, the way it brings us together in all its diversity, is crucial to how we will build a better future for everyone.”
Lord Parkinson, Minister for Arts, said: “I’m delighted that Southampton is on the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2025. This has been a tough competition with a record 20 initial applications and eight outstanding longlist candidates, so this accolade is a real tribute to the quality of creativity on display in the city. I look forward to seeing what Southampton’s bid has in store next!”
An original list of 20 cities throughout the UK – the biggest ever – were originally asked to be considered for the title of UK City of Culture 2025. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), will announce the winner in May.