Although many people in Bradford appreciated the importance of the city's bid to be named European Capital of Culture 2008, others were highly sceptical. They considered it to be a waste of time and of money that could have been better spent elsewhere.

However, others outside Bradford clearly thought differently. Although the city failed to make it on to the short list, the bid made a big impression on the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). So much so, in fact, that it has asked the director of the Capital of Culture team to put forward proposals for a nationwide Festival of Culture in 2008.

The idea of the Festival is an excellent one as far as the dozen bidding cities are concerned. A great deal of work was done to put the various bids together and it would be a shame if the momentum was to be lost. Bradford has a lot to gain through building on the enthusiasm and expertise that was generated in the attempt to make it on to the short list.

Our bid made good headlines for the city not only throughout the UK but around the world. We might have been outsiders in the race but we had style, energy and a sense of fun that was all our own.

It is an honour to have that acknowledged by being chosen to come up with plans for this nationwide festival, which will weld the dozen bidding cities into a "cultural network" and give each one a chance to present a month-long programme of events built around a blueprint drawn up in Bradford.