Middlesbrough Council joins 'Cultural Cities' at the Tower of London this week

Image: 'Beating Heart' living art installation in Middlesbrough - by Stuart Langley, which has transformed a brutalist, derelict building (courtesy Stuart Langley / Middlesbrough Council)

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Geoff Field, Corporate Director of Environment, Communities and Culture at Middlesbrough Council, will be speaking at our 'Cultural Cities' forum this week.

Geoff has been employed in the local government sector for 25 years having previously worked as a university lecturer of Economics. Within local government, he has specialised in Environment Services and Supporting Communities, Capital Infrastructure and the delivery of major capital projects. He represents the North- East Councils as acting Chief Executive in respect of migration and asylum. 

Middlesbrough has a long history of industrial innovation that is enjoying a new renaissance of community creativity and artistic exploration and is home to the fastest growing technology sector outside of London.

Geoff says Middlesbrough is a place where art, creativity and technology meet and, as Director of Culture, he is focused on supporting new and innovative ways in which Middlesbrough’s diverse communities can thrive in a creative town and ensure that its citizens have the opportunity to fulfil their potential in   a world where embracing creativity is key. 

Middlesbrough Council has been talking about the opportunity that being on the long-list for the City of Culture 2029 can bring to the area. It states:

'We're excited to say that Middlesbrough has been longlisted for the UK City of Culture 2029.

'We'll now get £60,000 from the government to help us write a full bid. We'll be competing with 8 other cities from across the UK for the title.

'Culture here is already thriving. The prestigious Turner Prize is coming to Middlesbrough this year, and Middlesbrough Central Library, Mima, and The Auxiliary have shared £4.25m of investment from the Cultural Development Fund in recent years. And we're already making plans for how we can all come together to celebrate Middlesbrough's 200th birthday in 2030/2031.

'

'Becoming the UK City of Culture would help us do so much more, with a cash prize of £10 million for a show-stopping year of cultural events. It would bring millions of pounds of investment to the town, create jobs, and encourage thousands of people to visit the area.'