UK Towns Bid for Culture Recognition
Merseyside's Prescot has officially bid for UK Town of Culture 2028, highlighting its Shakespearean connections and community cultural events. Meanwhile, Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole have submitted a joint bid, marking the first time multiple towns have run together for the title.
- The UK Town of Culture 2028 is a new initiative from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, building on the success of the UK City of Culture program. The winning town will receive £3 million for a cultural programme in 2028, and two runners-up will each get £250,000. - An expert panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond, creator of the TV series *Brookside*, will assess the bids. The key judging criteria are the uniqueness of the town's story, how the cultural programme will be accessible to everyone, and the feasibility of delivering the proposed events. - The deadline for Expressions of Interest is March 31, 2026. Shortlisted towns will be announced in Spring 2026, and the winner will be declared in early 2027. - Prescot's bid builds on its experience as the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture in 2022. That year featured over 60 events with a storytelling theme, attracting more than half a million visitors. - Central to Prescot's application is the Shakespeare North Playhouse, which opened in 2022 and has become a significant cultural landmark in the town. - The joint bid from Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole aims to showcase their combined cultural strengths under the theme of being "stronger together". - Their proposal highlights a variety of cultural assets, including the Arts by the Sea Festival, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Poole Museum, and the Boscombe Emerging Arts Fringe. - The BCP bid emphasizes creating a lasting cultural legacy that enhances community well-being and local pride.
