The University of Southampton is the new Culture Partner for the hugely popular ABP Southampton Marathon, which attracts 10,000 runners into the city and three times that number including their friends and family, and people lining the route.
This year's event, which includes full and half marathons as well as a 5k and 10k runs, will be held on Sunday, April 2.
Race headquarters will be at John Hansard Gallery, part of the University of Southampton, in the heart of the city's cultural quarter, where the race starts and finishes.
Chris Rees, organiser of the event and director of Rees Leisure, said: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome the University as the newly created Culture Partner. The category brings a new dimension to the event and firmly puts sport at the front and centre of Southampton's cultural offering. The event attracts tens of thousands of people including the competitors, their friends and family, and people lining the route, and the University has a big presence this year. Not only is John Hansard Gallery the race headquarters, but the marathon itself winds its way through the University's Highfield campus before reaching The Common and then heads onwards towards the home straight."
Woodrow Kernohan, Director of John Hansard Gallery, which is part of the University of Southampton, said: "The ABP Southampton Marathon has a huge impact on the city and brings an enormous amount of people into the cultural quarter and in sight of the gallery. Culture plays a significant part in the life of Southampton and as part of the legacy of the City of Culture 2025, it is vitally important that we ensure as many people as possible know about us and the world class exhibits, we have on display."
Currently John Hansard Gallery is presenting a major new solo exhibition by David Blandy, alongside a new film by the artist Bani Abidi. John Hansard Gallery | Internationally recognised contemporary art gallery in Southampton, UK.
Demand for places in the range of races which make up the ABP Southampton Marathon are filling up fast, so runners looking to enter are being encouraged to visit the event website soon.
