SWANSEA Bay is a "resourceful region" with a proud history and a strong cultural tradition — that's the message from the team hoping to bring the City of Culture title to South West Wales.
Swansea Bay — which includes Carmarthenshire, Neath and Port Talbot — is in the final four to win the cultural crown.
The official logo of the campaign was revealed for the first time in yesterday's Evening Post — with the slogan Cwtch The Bid.
Ben Reynolds from the bid team said people in Swansea Bay were famous for their self-deprecating humour.
"We aim to remind them of all the reasons why Swansea Bay is a great place to live with a proud history and strong cultural traditions," he said.
"We know we're not perfect but we are a region of countless firsts — from leading the world as the first global centre of heavy industry and pioneering photography, to being the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK and having the first Premiership football team in Wales.
"We are a small, resourceful city region and we find a way. And we want to do it again."
Those sentiments were echoed by Gavin and Stacey actress Melanie Walters, who has given her backing to the bid — she described Swansea as a "small place with big ambitions".
Swansea Bay is up against Dundee, Hull and Leicester in competing for the once-every- four-years honour, with the winner succeeding the current holder, Derry/Londonderry.
A detailed Swansea Bay bid document, which covers everything from music in schools to major art and theatre projects, has to be submitted to the Department of Media and Culture by September 30.
The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges — including TV producer and Brookside creator Phil Redmond — and announced in November.
