The UK government has announced a 15-place shortlist for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 title, a new initiative designed to boost regional cultural investment. Selected from nearly 400 applications, the finalists include Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby, and Rotherham, among others. Each location will receive £60,000 to develop a comprehensive bid, with an independent panel set to crown three winners—representing small, medium, and large towns—early next year.
The 15 Shortlisted Towns
According to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the competition categorizes applicants by population size to ensure a fair selection process across different types of communities. The 15 finalists are:
- Large Towns (over 75,000): Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby, and Rotherham.
- Medium Towns (20,000–75,000): Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot.
- Small Towns (under 20,000): Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward.
Funding and Selection Process
Each of the 15 shortlisted areas will receive a £60,000 grant to fund the development of their final cultural programs.
An independent judging panel will evaluate these submissions, selecting one winner for each of the three population categories. From these three finalists, one will be named the overall UK Town of Culture 2028. The ultimate winner will receive a £3 million grant to host a year-long program of cultural events, while the two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to support their local initiatives.
Context and Objectives
The UK Town of Culture competition is scheduled to run alongside the existing UK City of Culture 2029 program.
The winners are expected to be announced in early 2025, marking the start of the preparation phase for the 2028 events.
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