Hansard

I also congratulate Liz Smith on securing the debate. This is the first members’ business debate that I have ever taken part in. It is such an important issue that I decided to speak in the debate.

The status of city of culture in 2021 would fit well with the city of Perth. It is the city of my birth and the city of my youngest son’s birth. It is also the city where my oldest son attends college to study for a higher national diploma in technical theatre, which brings me neatly to the benefits of the Perth bid.

The city has such a thriving cultural community that it would live up to the aspirations of city of culture status. We can see clearly that it has some fantastic facilities in the concert hall, the museum and the art gallery. Perth Theatre is going through quite a significant period because of investment of £16 million, which shows the commitment of Perth and Kinross Council to the development of arts in the city and the wider area. There is also the Fergusson gallery, which Liz Smith mentioned.

However, I think that it is the deep heritage of the city that would make it a spectacular winning nominee for city of culture status. We have heard about its great history and the fact that modern Scotland was forged in Perth. It was the ancient capital of Scotland, where many kings were crowned—it competed with the great city of Dunfermline for that status. Perth also played a very important part in the Scottish renaissance, with Fergusson, Geddes and Soutar all linked with the city.

One of the strongest elements of Perth’s bid is its community arts scene. Ad-Lib Theatre Arts is a drama school that encourages people of all ages to participate in the arts and music—I have seen its work first hand, and I know how good it is. That is just one example of many that exist in the city. Therefore, Perth would be a fitting winner of the competition.

As Claire Baker suggested, however, it is not only what Perth could do for the whole process, but what the process could do for Perth. Despite Perth’s façade, it has pockets of poverty. The opportunities that are created from the process and the investment that would come with it would lift up many hundreds of people in Perth and the wider area who could do with a helping hand.

The combination of the facilities in Perth, its great community spirit and arts community and the potential of what becoming the city of culture could do for Perth and for the wider area makes the city a winning competition contender.