Today the Coventry City of Culture Trust announced the first events that will form part of the 365-day programme of UK City of Culture 2021, which kicks off in May 2021.

This first glimpse is a welcome announcement and shows what an incredible year Coventry has in store following the opening event on Saturday 15 May 2021 which is titled ‘Coventry Moves’. The programme is all about celebrating the rich history of the city, while celebrating the stories of the people who have made it their home. It also addresses the issues that communities are faced with today while imagining what the future holds.

Here at Warwick we’re working hard to make sure we contribute fully to the success of Coventry’s tenure as City of Culture. From engaging with our local communities in research projects to working with local artists on our Coventry Creates digital exhibition, we want to make sure that Warwick is enriching the cultural, economic, societal and health wellbeing of the city. By leading on the Monitoring and Evaluation of City of Culture, in close partnership with colleagues at Coventry University, we are ensuring that this programme of events will have genuine long-lasting impact on our region.

The announcement today demonstrates the ways in which Coventry 2021 is radically rethinking what a City of Culture, and its legacy, means to the region and audiences locally and internationally. This first look is a preview of the full events programme and partners that will be announced in January 2021, so watch this space!

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, all events are being planned in a flexible and responsive way, to allow them to be presented next year in line with the guidelines at the time they take place. The programme shows the ways that Coventry City of Culture and its artistic partners are tackling the challenges presented by Covid-19, and innovating how events are created, and how audiences can get involved.

The programme line up is already looking hugely exciting, reflecting the diversity and unique culture of Coventry. The programme is set to include major artistic events, world premieres and commissions across theatre, dance, literature, comedy and visual arts.

If you haven’t already, make sure you take a look at the announced events and keep an eye out for more announcements in January 2021.