City of Culture 2017 — Did It Actually Change Hull?

[MKMFaithful]

It’s been nearly a decade since Hull was UK City of Culture. At the time it felt like a massive moment for the city — national attention, big events, proper investment. But looking back now, did it actually make a lasting difference?
On the positive side, the physical transformation is undeniable. The city centre looks better than it has in decades. Humber Street went from derelict to trendy. The public art installations, the refurbished New Theatre, the investment in the maritime museum — all real and lasting improvements.
Tourism definitely got a boost. Before 2017, Hull wasn’t on anyone’s radar as a place to visit. Now it at least gets mentioned in travel articles occasionally. The Deep was already a draw but the rest of the city had nothing. That’s changed.
But here’s the question — did it change how Hull people feel about their own city? I think that might be the biggest legacy. There’s a confidence now that wasn’t there before. People are proud to say they’re from Hull. That matters.
What do you think — was City of Culture a turning point or just a temporary b
uzz?

 

[springbank_lad]

Definitely a turning point. I remember before 2017 the general attitude was almost apologetic about being from Hull. Now people are genuinely proud. The physical improvements are obvious but the attitude shift is the real legacy. We stopped accepting that Hull was rubbish and started believing it could be something. That said, there’s still loads of work to do in the outer estates. Can’t just be about the city centre.