The Northern English port city of Hull will host Turner Prize in 2017, one of the most important events in the British art calendar, the BBC reports.

The city’s Ferens Gallery won the right to host the prize after the city was voted the UK’s City of Culture for 2017. This is a unique opportunity for the city, which was voted “the worst place to live in the UK” back in 2005.

The Turner Prize is held in London every two years, and in other cities around the UK in the year in between. Glasgow is hosting the event this year (see Nominees for the 2015 Turner Prize Include Three Women Artists and a Housing Project). But, whereas Glasgow has a great reputation as an arts hub, Hull is yet to make its mark.

It’s also been announced that Ferens Gallery would undergo a £4.5 million ($6.8 million) refurbishment in preparation for the arrival of the prize.

Martin Green, chief executive of Hull 2017, called the Turner Prize a “honeypot” that will attract visitors to the northern city. “All those people who come, will spend money here and stay, drink and shop here,” Green said. “So this is great world-class culture being used as a regenerative and economic boost to the city. ” 

Nicole Wermers is one of this year’s nominees. Here, her work Untitled Chair (2014)
Photo via: The Guardian

Green estimated, that the Turner Prize will bring 1 million visitors to Hull, contributing £60 million ($91 million) to the local economy.

Recently, there has been much debate surrounding the Turner Prize, with critics questioning its relevance and cliquishness (see Is the Turner Prize Just a Publicity Machine? JJ Charlesworth Takes on the Tate and  Turner Prize: Confused Critics Demand Relevance!).