After months of careful planning and preparation, the big day has finally arrived for Bradford. With appropriate all-star fanfare, the city's bid to be named as European Capital of Culture in 2008 has been handed over to the Government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport in London.

It is a milestone in a long, hard-fought campaign during which some tremendous work has been carried out to show the rest of the country that there is far more to Bradford than many people think.

Winning this honour would be the shot in the arm the district needs. It would focus interest on the area from across the world, and would rightly highlight the many, many positive aspects of life in and around Bradford.

Submitting the bid, however, is only the beginning. Between now and the short list being drawn up in September, Bradford must continue to shine as a cultural hot-spot. Over the past few weeks, the T&A has highlighted many of the projects, events and happenings that support the Bradford bid to be named Capital of Culture 2008.

With high-profile venues like the Alhambra, St George's Hall and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television right here in the centre, and events such as the Bradford Film Festival and the revamped Bradford International Festival, with its ever-popular Mela, Bradford already has a rich and varied cultural heritage.

But winning the bid would be far more than simply recognition of what Bradford has to give. It would encourage investment, tourism and development, and would change the way everyone else looks at us for the better.

We all know what Bradford has to offer. Now we're just waiting for the chance to show the world.