Host needed for Great Exhibition

Bids have to be submitted by the end of June and the winning venue will be announced in September.

The Government is funding the exhibition to showcase the “best of art, culture and design across the northern regions”.

The idea was first floated by Chancellor George Osborne in 2014 but there is been little in the way of detail since.

Sir Gary Verity, the chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire and the mastermind behind the region’s hosting of the Tour de France in 2014, was appointed last year to chair the Great Exhibition board.

The invitation-to-bid document, published yesterday, reveals the event is expected to last two months and begin in July 2018.

Sir Gary said: “There are many towns and cities across the North of England that have what it takes to host the Great Exhibition of the North and I hope that many of them put in a bid.

“We will be showcasing our art, design and culture to the world in 2018 and high quality bids are an essential part of ensuring that we deliver an incredible Great Exhibition.”

The competition to host the exhibition is open to towns and cities in the North-West, North-East and Yorkshire.