A very special send off for Swansea Bay’s UK City of Culture 2017 bid from Michael Sheen, one of the region’s most famous sons
Port-Talbot born Hollywood A-lister, Michael Sheen, woke early after his Sunday night success at the Welsh BAFTA Cymru awards to see off the document containing the region’s finalised bid to win the competition.
Michael Sheen has supported the region’s bid from the outset and made sure he took time out of his busy schedule to bid the pitch farewell as it left Swansea Bay to be delivered to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport judging panel.
Speaking of Swansea Bay’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2017, he said: “I am very proud to be cwtching the bid. Swansea Bay deserves to win UK City of Culture in recognition of what a true creative and resourceful region it is.
“Culture for us here in Swansea Bay is the ordinary – it is our way of life, it defines us and we define it. But what is ordinary for us here in Swansea Bay, I believe is extraordinary for others. Our outstanding scenery; our proud industrial past; our cultural assets; our creative, clever resourceful people; our premier sporting achievements – all of these things provide a unique culture which I am extremely proud to be a part of.
“Now is the time that Swansea Bay got its chance to shine and show the world what we’re all about.”
Cllr David Phillips, Swansea Council Leader, said: “To have Michael Sheen support us like this and actually take time out of his very busy schedule to bid our pitch farewell is very special indeed.
“We know that if we do this right then we have the opportunity to make Swansea Bay an even more creative and inspiring region and ultimately an even better place to live. We could be creating the next generation of Michael Sheens.”
Swansea Bay’s bid faces competition from Hull, Dundee and Leicester to become the second ever UK City of Culture. The current holder of the title is Londonderry.
