The City of Culture bid team is drawing lessons from the achievements of other organisations. Researchers have discovered that Hull secured the City of Culture following on from significant work done at the local university.
Personnel from Keele University and Staffordshire University have visited Hull to learn more about their bid. Brochure printers from Stoke-on-Trent may be used by those working on the bid. Paul Williams, business school head at Staffordshire University, told the Stoke Sentinel:
“We wanted to find out what Hull University's involvement was at this stage in the bidding process. But one of the differences is that while Hull just has one university, both Staffordshire University and Keele are both involved in our bid.”
Stoke-on-Trent is benefiting from assistance from the Arts Council. Resources could be coming to the city because of a Cultural Education Partnership (CEP). Other similar partnerships are being formed in various parts of the UK.
In Stoke-on-Trent, the CEP will see universities, colleges and schools collaborating with one another. The relevant local authority will also have a role to play. The aim of the partnership will be to build superior cultural education.
The chief executive for the Arts Council in England, Darren Henley, commented on how important cultural education is for society. Furthermore, he stressed that young people can gain confidence and develop their creativity.