East Kent has been promised huge economic benefit from being UK City of Culture in 2017, with names including designer Wayne Hemmingway backing the bid.

As businesses are encouraged to back the surprise bid, Chris Hespe, head of culture at Kent County Council, said: “The economic benefits and legacy of east Kent’s bid to become City of Culture are potentially huge.

“Winning the title would bring vast numbers of new visitors to the area, create jobs and build on the fantastic work of East Kent’s creative industries in driving regeneration and growth.”

The area – Canterbury, Ashford, Dover, Folkestone and Thanet – is competing against 10 others across the UK for the title, including Aberdeen, Chester, Dundee, Hastings and Bexhill-on- Sea, Hull, Leicester, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, Southend-on-Sea and Swansea Bay.

The campaign, which uses Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, and Turner Contemporary Margate (director Victoria Pomeroy pictured below) among its trump cards, has won big-name backing from designer Wayne Hemingway and architect Sir David Chipperfield.

Mr Hemingway (below) said: “East Kent is clearly finding its cultural mojo. Through the work we are about to embark on with the Dreamland Trust in Margate, I have come to recognise and appreciate the depth, resourcefulness, creativity, diversity and wit of the area’s cultural community – a community that is well equipped to deliver projects of international significance.”

East Kent is clearly finding its cultural mojo

Sir David added: “The creative revival that I have witnessed in east Kent – and had the pleasure of playing a part in through my work with Turner Contemporary in Margate – is truly astonishing. The area stands as a shining example of the positive role arts and culture can play in driving economic regeneration and social growth.”

Businesses can download a marketing toolkit from www.eastkent2017.co.uk under the Get Involved heading