Bristol has been ranked among the world’s most inspirational cities in a new survey by online travel company TravelBird, which saw the West Country city beat capitals including Paris, Amsterdam and London to the top 10.
The city was placed fourth in the 2016 Inspiring Cities Ranking, which grades cities on eight criteria based on innovation and creativity.
Miami topped the rankings overall, followed by Bruges in Belgium,, then San Francisco.
Among the criteria were the number of arts schools, galleries and institutions, the number of film and music production facilities, and the number of start-ups in the city currently seeking funding.
As well as coming fourth overall, the survey placed Bristol among the world’s top 10 cities ranked by number of performing arts companies and film industry facilities per 100,000 citizens. And it was in the top 25 for the number of art schools, art galleries and music production facilities.
The city has long fostered a distinctive identity, with strong grass-roots music and arts scenes, and support for environmentalism and sustainable living, winning it European Green Capital status in 2015.
“Bristol has a strong sense of freedom and open-mindedness, but also of mutual support,” says Kimberly Rogers, operation manager at Hamilton House, a creative community in Stokes Croft that features studios, workshops and event spaces.
“It’s this energy that has developed a deeply embedded and respected culture of creativity and expression. Organisations such as our own foster this culture, with community-led and inspired social and cultural projects intertwining and working together. It’s this city-felt sense of collaboration that creates such a big impact.”
