What is City of Culture and what does winning it mean?
PA MediaBlackpool has been shortlisted for the 2029 UK City of Culture, but what would it mean for the town to win?.
What is the City of Culture competition?
The UK City of Culture competition is run by the government every four years to celebrate the "enormous contributions" made by communities across the UK.
Blackpool made the top nine, and then the top four alongside Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Wrexham and the town is in the running to become the fifth holder of the title.
Each place is now guaranteed to receive at least £125,000 to take forward elements of their bid.
The eventual winner will be announced at the start of next year and is set to receive £10m to deliver a year of cultural events and activities drawing on its "local strengths and stories".
The winning location, which will be announced early next year, will follow Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford.
But Blackpool isn't a city?
While Blackpool is not a city, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport also encouraged larger towns to bid.
The expanded competition includes cities, large towns, regions and groups of places working together.
As the 45th largest place in the UK, with a population of 141,500 and a visitor economy valued at £2bn, the town met the bidding criteria.
PA MediaHow does it benefit the winning city?
Blackpool Council said the award could create jobs, attract investment and boost tourism across the Fylde Coast.
The authority's leader, Lynn Williams, said winning "would bring new opportunities, jobs, investment and experiences".
"It could also give our young people more reasons to believe in themselves, to develop their talents and to see a future for themselves here in Blackpool," she said.
The government said the competition "can strengthen communities, build a sense of place and inspire local pride, celebrating and boosting local and grassroots arts and culture, and attract new investment and tourism".
Hull's win in 2017 raised more than £32m of investment to put on about 3,000 events seen by more than five million people.
According to a University of Hull study, more than half of audiences came from the city, with more than 95% of residents attending at least one cultural activity during the year.
Research by the University of Warwick and Coventry University, said that Coventry's year as City of Culture in 2021 helped to generate more than £183m for the local economy.
Last year Bradford hosted the prestigious Turner Prize exhibition as part of its programme of cultural celebrations.
The show drove a 44% increase in visitors to the city's Cartwright Hall.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
