Sunderland is a city of unexpected delights and discovery. A city of contrasts, steeped in history, yet at the forefront of 21st Century developments. One of the great new technology engines of the UK, Sunderland boasts scenic parks, award-winning beaches and is known the world over as the birth place of the Venerable Bede, one of Britain's earliest scholars and a founding father of the English language. It's also more recently been recognised as one of the world's seven Most Intelligent Cities by the global World Teleport Association. Massive investment of over £1bn from the public sector alone is transforming the city, regenerating its dramatic riverside and coast and bringing back to life the fine Victorian architecture at its heart. Further private investment is creating new leisure, retailing, commercial and residential development. With major services provided by an "excellent"-rated local authority, Sunderland has set out its stall as one of the new and emerging city destinations for living, leisure, business and tourism. Underpinning all this is the city's passionate commitment to celebrating and developing its unique and diverse culture. That means ensuring that there's a rich cultural life for the residents of Sunderland - that is shared and enjoyed by visitors from the whole of the North-East and beyond. Sunderland's contribution to the resurgence of the North-East is already considerable, not only in economic development and job creation but also in creating some of the region's biggest and best established events and attractions, raising the region's profile on the international stage. As part of the regional culture10 programme, Sunderland's contribution to a decade of world-class culture will include blockbuster exhibitions, shows, events and commissions. On the international stage the city will once more this summer host the breathtaking Sunderland International Air Show, the largest free airshow in Europe, attracting over 1m visitors, half of whom travel from outside the region. Also on the schedule is the International Festival of Kites, Music and Dance, extending international links by bringing kite flyers and visitors from every continent. Sunderland now officially has the "best large visitor attraction" outside London in the Museum and Winter Gardens - housing more than 1,500 plants and 146 different species under a spectacular glass roof. The Museum is currently helping launch culture10's Hotbed 2004 theme by celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Royal Horticultural Society with Plantmania!, a inique, thoughtful exhibition of art, literature, books and horticulture exploring the relationship between people and plants as seen through the eyes of artists over the last 500 years. The Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, at the City Library and Arts Centre, recently attracted national acclaim for its futuristic and intriguing exhibition Fantasy Architecture, shown first in Sunderland, and, after July 3, touring the UK. The £5m redevelopment of the Empire Theatre means that the city will soon be the only place between Leeds and Edinburgh where people can see West End-scale musicals. With Starlight Express in December and Miss Saigon opening in January and with more blockbuster shows already planned, it will bring further international profile to the region. Sunderland is also home to the only UK centre celebrating over a millennium of glass making. The National Glass Centre is world-renowned for its contribution to both the heritage and the future of the glass making industry. For fun and family festivities, the annual Durham County Show, at Herrington Country Park in July, has quickly become established as a major event, attracting more 30,000 people. Jointly with South Tyneside, a bid has been launched to win UNESCO World Heritage site status for the churches and monastery sites of St Peter's and St Paul's, home of the great work of Venerable Bede. Sunderland has plans for the region's first 50-metre swimming pool and exciting riverside developments include a £26m cinema and leisure complex for the city, expected to open by the end of this year. A major cultural strategy for the city heralds cultural developments that will develop local creative talent and bring artists of international renown to the city - giving local people and the region even more to be proud of in one of the North-East's great cities. | 
