Coventry to host Turner prize in city of culture year in 2021

City’s bid is ‘glimmer of hope’ for UK arts sector amid Covid crisis, says creative director

Coventry will host the Turner prize, a south Asian film festival and a music festival curated by the Specials’ Terry Hall during its city of culture year, which is being billed as a “glimmer of hope” for the UK’s arts sector amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The first 15 events for the year-long programme were unveiled on Wednesday by Chenine Bhathena, the creative director for Coventry’s city of culture year, who said it could be an example of how to put on Covid-safe arts events.