The fifteen towns shortlisted for the inaugural UK Town of Culture have been announced.
The shortlisted towns have been divided into three categories. In the small towns category, Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward will compete for a place in the final.
The medium-sized towns shortlisted are Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot, while the large towns category features Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham.
The new initiative has been launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and it aims to celebrate the role that towns play in the nation’s cultural life while boosting local pride.
The competition attracted 398 applications from more than 400 towns.
Each of the shortlisted locations will receive £60,000 to help develop a detailed proposal outlining how they would use culture to transform their communities.
The bids will be assessed by a panel chaired by broadcaster and writer Sir Phil Redmond, known for creating influential television dramas such as Hollyoaks.
One finalist from each category will be selected before an overall winner is chosen early next year.
The winning town will receive a £3million government grant and host a year-long season of cultural events in 2028.
The two remaining finalists will each receive £250,000 to support parts of their cultural programmes.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy praised the enthusiasm shown by communities across the country. She said the large number of entries demonstrates how proud people are of their towns and reflects the important contribution these places make to national life.
Nandy emphasised that the competition is designed to shine a spotlight on towns that are often overlooked despite their significant cultural achievements and rich histories.
The initiative forms part of the government’s wider ambition to restore pride in local communities through its Pride in Place Programme.
Regional leaders have welcomed the inclusion of towns from across all four nations of the UK. Welsh representatives celebrated the recognition of Pontypridd and Port Talbot, while ministers highlighted the strong Scottish presence through Isle of Bute, Lerwick and Leith.
In Northern Ireland, Strabane has been praised for earning a place on the prestigious shortlist.
Marina Ryan, who is an artist in Strabane, said: “I was so pleased to see Strabane on the list. Sometimes it feels like people only see the cultural impact of places like London and Manchester, you know, but in small towns art and events are often even more impactful for local people and can really bring everyone together.”
As the shortlisted towns begin working on their proposals, the competition is set to showcase the diversity, creativity and heritage that exist far beyond Britain’s major cities.
Featured image credit: Gov UK
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