A GROUP of countywide arts and heritage providers has been launched to put together a bid for Hereford to become City of Culture 2021.

The Herefordshire Cultural Partnership has formed to submit the bid and also aims to build on the existing arts and cultural programming and generate new opportunities for engagement.

In the run up to Easter, when the bid will need to be submitted by, there will be activities and communication around key themes which include; Light & Dark, Maps & Borders, Urban & Rural and Food Culture.

Roger Morgan, chairman of the Herefordshire Cultural Partnership, said: "We should all be proud of our county of Herefordshire which is at a tipping point; winning City of Culture would turbo-charge existing cultural activity, as well as highlighting many other initiatives across the county.

"The main benefits to go forward for City of Culture include an increase to economic growth and raising the profile of Herefordshire on a national and international map, making it more attractive to visitors and residents.

"The City of Culture bid is one of a number of opportunities the Herefordshire Cultural Partnership is pursuing. It has already secured Arts Council of England funding to support a cultural strategy for Herefordshire."

For further information about the bid go to www.herefordcityofculture.org