Johnstone Cat Rescue appeal for donations to help pay veterinary fees
September 4, 2016Renfrewshire showcases its unique heritage buildings as doors open for the weekend
September 5, 2016A group of eight young people from Paisley’s PACE Youth Theatre are on their way to London to wow Westminster as part of Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021.
PACE Youth Theatre group who will be travelling to London to support Paisley 2021. Included are David Wallace, founder of PACE, and Mhairi Gilbert, director of the performance which the group will deliver in Westminster
The group set off on their way today (Tuesday 6th September), making the first leg of their journey in the official Paisley 2021 taxi.
The young performers will accompany Renfrewshire Council Leader and Chair of the 2021 Partnership Board, Mark Macmillan, and Bid Director, Jean Cameron, to a special reception at the House of Commons, attended by parliamentarians, business leaders and key cultural figures.
Hosted by Renfrewshire MPs Mhairi Black and Gavin Newlands, the event will promote Paisley’s Untold Story and showcase the strength of Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021.
The group from PACE, the youth theatre which started the careers of Paolo Nutini, James McAvoy, and new star of Hollyoaks Amy Conachan, among many others, will put on a specially commissioned performance that will tell Paisley’s story and share what makes the town – Scotland’s largest, so special.
Paisley’s bid and journey to 2021 will harness the power of culture to tackle deep-rooted poverty in communities identified as the most deprived in Scotland, and will place the artistic community at the heart of the town’s cultural, social and economic transformation.
The bid will celebrate the town’s internationally significant cultural and textile heritage, home to the world famous Paisley Pattern and one of the UK’s original creative industries – thread making and weaving, and will be used to attract tourism investment as well as promote further job growth and economic stability across all of Renfrewshire.
The Paisley delegation is the first representing any of the locations bidding for the UK City of Culture title to hold such an event at the House of Commons.
Councillor Mark Macmillan said: “Being home to PACE Youth Theatre, one of the largest youth theatres in the UK, is just one of the many jewels in Renfrewshire’s cultural crown. Our bid is all about changing perceptions of Paisley at home and abroad and changing local aspirations and ambition. The passion and talent displayed by our young people performing here today epitomises the Paisley spirit and is a driving force behind our bid”
“I’m sure everybody involved will do the town proud and will help to convince our guests that Paisley deserves to become UK City of Culture 2021.”
Abby, aged 17, is one of the members of PACE Youth Theatre who is making the trip to London. She said: “We are really excited to be representing Paisley 2021 at such an important event. Paisley is my town and being able to play a part in helping to spread the word about how much culture there is here in Paisley and Renfrewshire is great.”
Bids are expected to be lodged with the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport in Spring 2017, with the winner announced in Autumn 2017.
For more information on Paisley 2021, visit www.paisley2021.co.uk, like /Paisley2021 on Facebook or follow @Paisley2021 on Twitter and Instagram.
