All the leading players in Chichester's unrivalled collection of arts and heritage attractions have come together to look at ways of securing Chichester the national – and also local – attention they are convinced it deserves.

The initiative comes from SWAG – the South-West West Sussex Arts Group – which was founded by the Duke of Richmond, now its president, and is chaired by former Petworth Festival director Michael Follis.

Aside from a concerted promotional campaign, the group is also looking at securing a tagline for the city proclaiming it in all promotional material 'Chichester – city of the arts'.

The actual wording remains to be finalised. 'City of arts and learning' and 'city of arts, heritage and learning' are other possible descriptions.

The idea is attractions and organisations will use the tag individually and across joint promotional material so it becomes accepted by everyone.

Whatever the tag they go for, the intention is clear: to bring home to everyone, locally and across the country, the unique array of arts and heritage attractions the city boasts, attractions key to the city's economy and its appeal to visitors.

Mr Follis said the SWAG members – which include Goodwood, the University, the Festival Theatre (pictured), Pallant House, the cathedral and the local authorities – agreed to form a working party to put a proposal together.

After consultation, the hope is the proposal will come together in the new year.

"The proposal was visited, I think, in 1993 and it was decided not to proceed at the time," Mr Follis said.

"But people have talked about it on-off, on-off ever since, and lots of significant things have happened since then. A group of us got together to see whether there was any interest in taking it further."



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