This is Leicestershire --Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has pledged to stage an 18-month programme of events despite losing out to Hull in the race to become UK City of Culture 2017.
Yesterday, Culture Secretary Maria Miller revealed the east coast city had beaten Leicester, Swansea Bay and Dundee to the title.
Despite his disappointment, Sir Peter, who had overseen Leicester's bid for the accolade, insisted nine months of preparation work putting together a £12 million events programme, entitled illuminating Leicester, had not been wasted.
He said: "Of course, there is some disappointment, but the programme we outlined was fantastic and I am now determined we will make the best bits happen anyway.
"What we do will be bigger, better and it will be sooner.
"I scarcely dared contemplate a Plan B because we really were confident we could win.
"However, we will need to see what parts of the programme can be delivered and which will have the biggest impact."
Sir Peter said the revised programme of events would start next summer with the expected re-interment of Richard III at Leicester Cathedral and the city hosting Rugby World Cup games in 2015.
The city council said more details would be revealed in the coming weeks but has said it wants to keep the proposed Our Richard event – an £800,000 dramatic production of the Richard III story with a cast of thousands staged over numerous locations in the city and at Bosworth Battlefield. It will take place in 2015
The Festival City programme will also see increased financial support for existing festivals, although the final cost has not yet been confirmed.
Supporters of the Leicester's bid gathered at the city's Curve theatre yesterday anticipating good news.
After the announcement, Sir Peter congratulated Hull but said he was surprised and disappointed at the result.
He said: "It's Hull's second attempt at winning this and we have to congratulate them.
"But it is deeply disappointing for Leicester.
"Our bid was brilliant but the judges obviously thought Hull desperately needed the shot in the arm. I will ask for some feedback on why Leicester did not win, given the quality of our bid. I suspect we will find Hull just needed it more."
Curve chief executive Fiona Allan, a member of the board behind Leicester's bid, said: "I'm really, really disappointed. All four cities had compelling reasons for being picked. I thought ours were the best but the judges obviously didn't.
"A huge amount of hard work and goodwill went into this bid, and it brought together a lot of people in a way that hasn't happened before, so we are determined to continue that good work."
Board member and organiser of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Geoff Rowe said: "I still think Leicester deserved to win. We wanted to win but if somebody had said to me, before we embarked on this process, there would be an 18-month cultural programme like the one we will have, I would have jumped for joy."
Television writer and chairman of UK City of Culture 2017's judging panel Phil Redmond said: "There was real understanding and appetite from all four short-listed cities for the sort of transformational change that a year of culture can bring.
"Ultimately, it was the unanimous verdict of the panel that Hull put forward the most compelling case based on its theme of 'a city coming out of the shadows'.
"This is at the heart of their project and reminds both its people and the wider world of both its cultural past and future potential.
"We were particularly impressed with Hull's evidence of community and creative engagement, their links to the private sector and their focus on legacy, including a commitment to enhance funding beyond 2017."
Leicester's bid cost £125,000 to put together. That included bid writer costs, design fees and travel costs.
The city council spent £60,000 and Leicestershire County Council £20,000.
De Montfort University contributed £30,000 and University of Leicester £15,000. Reported by This is 9 hours ago.