The UK is looking for its next City of Culture, launching a nationwide competition to find a candidate for the 2021 event.

Minister of state for digital and culture Matt Hancock launched the competition to find the successor for Hull, which has just begun its stint as UK City of Culture for 2017.

Bestowed every four years, the title designed to use culture as a catalyst for economic and social regeneration and increase levels of arts and creativity locally and across the country.

“The UK City of Culture showcases the unique identity of our cities, help to boost tourism, and raise the profile of art and culture,” said Hancock.

“I urge local authorities and partnerships across the whole UK to consider entering the competition and I hope to see plenty of ambitious, exciting and innovative bids for 2021.”

Cities interested in participating must register with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) by the end of February. Bids for 2021 must be submitted by 28 April. A shortlist will be produced in Q3 before the winning bid is announced in December.

“Hull is already demonstrating how UK City of Culture can transform the fortunes of a city,” said Daren Hale, deputy leader of Hull City Council

“For Hull, bidding and hosting UK City of Culture is part of a long-term plan to harness our city’s wonderful heritage and culture to change perceptions of the city, attract investment and create much-needed jobs for local people.

“Winning UK City of Culture has generated an enormous sense of local pride among local people and a renewed sense of confidence and self-belief in what the city can achieve. This started during the bidding process and is why I would encourage other councils to consider bidding to be the next UK City of Culture.”