Nottingham will not be the European Capital of Culture for 2023 because Britain is leaving the European Union, the European Commission says.
Nottingham was due to compete against Belfast, Dundee, Leeds and Milton Keynes for the status and the chosen city was due to share the status with one from Hungary.
But the European Commission, which runs the scheme, said in a letter to the British Government UK access would be ‘discontinued’ following Brexit.
It comes a day after Chancellor Philip Hammond announced in the Autumn Budget that £3 billion would be set aside to prepare for whatever happens in the Brexit negotiations.
@Nottingham2023, the official account for the bid, Tweeted: “Our bid has brought Nottingham together & regardless of any outcomes we will work to implement many of the positive actions through the Strategic Cultural Framework.
“We are liaising with DCMS & hope this can be resolved positively for UK bidding cities.”
Nottingham’s bid was called Nottingham 2023: Breaking the Frame focusing, on the legacy and spirit of Robin Hood.
It was submitted to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport on Friday October 27.
The bid has the backing of leading artists, actors, authors, musicians and theatre makers, including Vicky McClure and Sleaford Mods, as well as cultural and civic organisations, sports clubs, businesses and residents.
The programme is an annual competition in which cities from two selected European countries bid for the title.
The last British capital was Liverpool in 2008.
