Louise Wheeler

This 'Made in Hull' mural at Sirius Academy West echoes the theme of the first season of City of Culture 2017.

The first of the four seasons draws on the 'distinctive spirit of the city and the artists, writers, directors, musicians, revolutionaries and thinkers' who have help to develop art and ideas in Hull.

Louise Wheeler
BBC Local Live

Journalists from Spain, The Netherlands and Germany are just some of those arriving in Hull this lunchtime to find out more about what the City of Culture programme will look like.

Here are just a few of the publications:

• El Pais - a Spanish newspaper
• La Vanguardia - another Spanish newspaper based in Barcelona
• The German radio station ARD
• Die Welt - a German media group that has a newspaper, TV station and website

Image source, Hull 2017

Louise Wheeler
BBC Local Live

Rosie Millard: Chairwoman of the company running Hull's UK City of Culture activities

• Studied at the University of Hull and read English and Drama
• Former BBC arts correspondent
• She writes for most of the UK’s broadsheet newspapers and has a weekly column in the Independent  
• The first article Rosie wrote for a national newspaper was about the Humber Bridge
• Keen marathon runner

Martin Green: CEO of Hull 2017

• He was the man behind the London 2012 Olympic ceremonies
• The executive producer of the Tour de France's opening ceremony in Leeds  
• Read Theatre Studies at the University of Plymouth
• Grew up in Essex

Victoria Holland
BBC Look North

Hull has borrowed the town crier from the East Riding of Yorkshire to ring in the Hull 2017 programme in Bransholme.

If you want to hear what's going to be on offer before the official announcement at 13:30 then head to the North Point shopping centre.

Louise Wheeler
BBC Local Live

The poet Phillip Larkin held the post of librarian at the University of Hull and completed many of his prolific works in the city.  

A statue commemorating Larkin stands proudly at Hull Paragon Station.

Louise Wheeler
BBC Local Live

Students have been listening to culture plans for Hull 2017.

They were told at their morning assembly about some of the things they can expect to see, including a huge firework display for the opening night.

Phil Batty from the Culture team visited the Sirius Academy in West Hull.

Katy Austin
BBC Look North

It seems like the fireworks that are planned for the start of Hull 2017 are causing excitement among students at the Sirius Academy in West Hull.

They were told at school assembly about the City of Culture plans.

BBC News England

All eyes are on Hull today for the announcement of the programme of events for City of Culture 2017, here is a look at some of its famous faces and surprising facts about its history.

After 13:30 we're expecting to know more about the first part of events for UK City of Culture.

The national press are due to arrive this lunchtime and already it seems like there's a buzz about Hull 2017 on social media.

Caroline Brockelbank
BBC Radio Humberside

A grey kiosk at Hull's railway station has been turned into a tourist information spot.

It's hoped it'll encourage visitors to the city to learn more about City of Culture.

You definitely won't miss it if you're passing through Paragon station!

Caroline Brockelbank
BBC Radio Humberside

Welcome flags have been put up at Hull's railway station telling everyone about Hull 2017.

Commuters earlier enjoyed singing from the Hull Freedom Chorus.  

This lunchtime national journalists from London will arrive in the city.

Details of ‘Made in Hull',curated by award-winning, Hull-born documentary filmmaker Sean McAllister, have been revealed. 

The first night will culminate in a New Year's Day fireworks fired at 20:17 that will light up the night sky above the Humber, signalling the start of Hull 2017's year in the spotlight. The fireworks will be accompanied by an audio visual soundtrack by DJ Cheeba.

Image source, Hull 2017

Everyone is invited to Made in Hull, which runs each evening from 4pm to 9pm from 1 to 7 January 2017. It is a free event and does not require a ticket. 

The fireworks display on the first night of Made in Hull is also free, but will be ticketed in advance. Tickets will be available in late October. To keep updated, please go to www.hull2017.co.uk, external.

Hull 2017 volunteers will also be helping to spread the word across the city at a series of events later this morning:

• 11.30am - 2pm: Michael Wood, East Riding's town crier, announcing the programme at North Point Shopping Centre in Bransholme;
• 11.30am - 2pm: Pop up installation of local artist Debi Keable’s Hull Sculpture at Holderness Road 
• 11.30am - 2pm: Live illustration with local artist Reg Tait at Hessle Road
• 1pm-4pm: Artist Sarah Mole will lead an arts session at Octagon Children’s Centre, The Octagon

Image source, Hull 2017

Chloe Deakin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Have a listen to the Freedom Chorus who are singing to commuters at Hull's railway station this morning.

The events that will be planned for the first three months of Hull 2017 will be announced later.

'Made in Hull' will be title of the first programme of event that'll run between January to March.

Louise Wheeler
BBC Local Live

• September 2013: Hull submits bid for City of Culture at an event in Manchester
• November 2013: Government named Hull as City of Culture 2017
• June 2014: Broadcaster Rosie Millard is named as the Chair of the company behind Hull 2017
• July 2014: Martin Green, the man behind the London 2012 Olympic ceremonies, is appointed the CEO of City of Culture 2017 (pictured bottom right)
• 2nd July 2016:Place Des Anges perform a spectacular free aerial show for 10,000 people in the city (pictured top left)
• 9th July 2016: Thousands of people stand nude and painted in blue for an art installation in Hull to be unveiled as part of culture celebrations (pictured bottom left)
• August 2016: People in Hull are asked to rent out their spare room to visitors to Hull 2017
• September 2016: 60 groups in Hull are given money to run events in the City of Culture year
• 22nd September 2016: 2017 programme of events revealed for January-March 2017

Chloe Deakin
BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The Freedom Chorus is ringing in the City of Culture programme reveal day.

They are singing songs of freedom at Paragon Station.  

What a way to start the day!

BBC Breakfast

£100 million pounds is being spent on doing up the city to get it ready for Hull 2017.

Deputy Leader of Hull City Council Daren Hale says despite the ongoing works everything will be ready for the big year.

The BBC's Arts and Entertainment Correspondent Colin Paterson is live this morning for BBC Breakfast at Hull's railway station.

Gill Sennett
BBC Local Live, East Yorkshire and Humber

Later this afternoon we'll find out what events will be planned for the first three months of Hull 2017.

All will be revealed in this booklet that the CEO of City of Culture, Martin Green is clinging on to.

We can't wait to find out what's inside...

Louise Wheeler
BBC Local Live

It's been announced a huge light and fireworks show will launch Hull's year as the UK City of Culture.

It's hoped the display will rival London's New Year's celebrations.

The first 3 months of events will be revealed this lunchtime, and it's thought there'll be plans for shows on the same scale as July's Place des Anges performance.

Louise Wheeler
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to Local Live for Thursday 22 September

Today's the day we find out what events are planned for Hull 2017 City of Culture.

Keep checking the feed for updates as we bring you the announcements throughout the day.

Please get in touch and let us know what you think of the culture events as they're announced, by email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.