Birkenhead has been shortlisted for the Uk Town of Culture prize, with each of the 15 towns selected now receiving £60,000 to develop their bids.
It will now compete for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 title across three categories – small towns, medium towns and large towns. The shortlisted towns are:
Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward
Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot
Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham
Watch the Birkenhead UK Town of Culture campaign video below:
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Birkenhead will explain how it will use culture to celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling, empower it’s local communities and provide more accessible culture in the area.
The overall winner will be announced early next year and receive a £3 million grant from the government, along with hosting a season of culture in 2028. This will help to deliver a long-lasting legacy of cultural participation and local pride.
The UK Town of Culture competition is part of the government’s ambition to restore pride in local areas in every part of Britain and deliver a decade of national renewal, following the announcement of the Pride in Place Programme last year. Throughout this year, this competition – together with the UK City of Culture 2029 competition – will continue to shine a light on local visions and voices from across the UK to help encourage increased local investment, create a lasting sense of pride, and open doors to the arts and culture for everyone.