Eleven contenders have put their name forward to become the UK’s 2017 City of Culture, culture minister Ed Vaizey announced today (6 March).

They are Aberdeen, Chester, Dundee, East Kent, Hastings and Bexhill on Sea, Hull, Leicester, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, Southend on Sea, and Swansea Bay.

The honour is currently held by Derry-Londonderry, which was named the inaugural City of Culture in 2010.

Vaizey said the competition brings together communities and creates economic and social benefits.

Liverpool received 9.7m additional visitors and an additional visitor spend of £735m when it was the European City of Culture in 2008, and Derry-Londonderry hopes to create 2800 tourism jobs by 2020 as a legacy from this year’s title.

Contenders for the 2017 title have until 30 April to submit initial bids, which will be considered by an advisory panel led by Phil Redmond.

The panel will decide on a shortlist by June.

Redmond said: “Together with the panel I’m looking forward to receiving some ambitious and dynamic bids that highlight the very best of local cultural talent, along with delivering a realistic programme that will appeal to as wide an audience as possible.”