The UK Government's Brexit plans should not be allowed to harm Dundee bid to be European Capital of Culture, the Scottish culture secretary has said.
Fiona Hyslop has written to the UK's Secretary of State for Culture, Karen Bradley, asking her not to renege on commitments to back the city's bid.
She said she fears the city will "have the rug pulled from under them."
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A UK city is due to host the title in 2023, alongside a city from Hungary, and Dundee is understood to be one of a number of cities to have expressed an interest in the competition, a title which was held by Glasgow in 1990.
The last UK city to hold the title was Liverpool in 2008, and 54 have held the title overall.
The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport was expected to invite bids imminently, and have to by the end of this year.
The Scottish Government now fear the threat of Brexit, and the opaque plans surrounding it, has cast doubt on whether it will proceed with the competition.
Ms Hyslop said: "Dundee City Council’s aspiration is to bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2023.
"They have put a considerable amount of time, effort and expense into scoping out their bid and are excited about the cultural, regenerative and economic benefits it would generate in Dundee, Scotland, the rest of the UK and Europe.
“However, with the increasing likelihood of a hard Brexit being pursued by the UK Government, I am concerned that the delay in launching the competition is a signal of the Government’s intention to renege on its agreement to be a host city.
"Dundee must not now have the rug pulled from under them.
“I hope to receive reassurance that the UK Government intends to go ahead with its commitment to be the host country in 2023 and clarification on when the bid process will open."
The leader of Dundee City Council, Ken Guild said: "Dundee has planned to be a candidate city for the European Capital of Culture in 2023 and would be hugely disappointed if it was denied the opportunity to present its case as a city which represents the ideals of the European Capital of Culture.”
The European City of Culture (ECoC) is hosted by two EU member states each year and an additional associate member state hosts the title every third year.
Non-EU countries Norway and Iceland have hosted the title as part of agreements negotiated with the EU.
A city from the UK and a city from Hungary are due to be ECoC in 2023. Leeds, Milton Keynes and Dundee have so far expressed an interest.
The letter from Ms Hyslop says: "I am writing to seek urgent clarity from you on the UK Government’s position on hosting the European Capital of Culture competition in 2023, and for confirmation of when your Department will officially launch competition bids.
"You will be aware that Dundee City Council’s aspiration is to become European Capital of Culture in 2023.
"They have put a considerable amount of time, effort and expense into scoping out their bid and are excited about the many benefits such a bid would generate in Dundee, Scotland, the rest of the UK and Europe."
It adds: "However, with the increasing likelihood of a hard Brexit being pursued by the UK Government, I am concerned that the delay in launching the competition for bids for the European Capital of Culture is a signal of the Government’s intention to renege on its agreement to be a host city.
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"As the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs in Scotland I recognise the valuable role culture can have in promoting outward-looking, welcoming and progressive values, which are more important now than they have been in recent years.
"I trust, as UK Secretary of State for Culture, you too recognise the enormous benefits international cultural engagement can bring to help promote these values, and how essential it is to continue to participate in partnerships like the European Capital of Culture."
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