Culture Secretary visited the Museum of Liverpool
yesterday to see a digital display of postcards from towns hoping
to become the first UK Town of Culture, as judges whittle down
hundreds of applications to a final shortlist.
Following the launch of the inaugural UK Town of Culture
competition last year, the government has confirmed that it
received 398 bids representing over 400 hopeful towns from across
the UK.
In order to celebrate the local pride expressed in the
submissions so far, every bidding town was invited to submit a
postcard to champion their bid. These have been showcased by
National Museums Liverpool in a digital display in the Museum of
Liverpool yesterday, (Thursday 2 July), to celebrate the
diversity of each and every town that has participated in the
competition.
Culture Secretary and chair of the independent
panel judging the bids, Sir Phil Redmond, visited the museum to
see the display ahead of the shortlist for the competition, which
will be announced in the coming weeks.
It marks a return to the city which secured the title of European
Capital of Culture in 2008 and was the catalyst for the
introduction of the UK's own City of Culture competition.
Culture Secretary said:
For far too long, towns across the UK have felt left out of our
national story.
Today we celebrate the local pride that has always existed in
towns around the country within this amazing display of postcards
from bidding towns.
Through UK Town of Culture, I wanted to shine a light on our
amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they
make to our national life. That contribution is clear to see
today and I hope each and every town is incredibly proud of the
work they have done to champion their community in the
competition.
Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond said:
The number of towns that have entered the competition is
incredible. It is a distinct moment in its own right, when people
overwhelmingly wanted to demonstrate the sense of pride they have
in their own communities.
It is why we invited every one of them to send a postcard, a
snapshot, of where they are, who they are, and how taken
together, each contributes to our shared national story.
The postcards, along with their initial bids will form part of
our national archive so future generations can look back and
appreciate this significant cultural moment of history.
The UK Town of Culture competition is part of the Government's
ambition to restore pride in every part of Britain. The
competition - together with the UK City of Culture competition -
will shine a light on local visions and voices from across the
UK, which will encourage local investment, create a lasting sense
of pride, and open doors to the arts for everyone.
After the display, the postcards will remain within the National
Museums Liverpool's national collection in recognition of the
importance that this moment represents for the UK.
Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool, said:
It is a great honour to welcome the Secretary of State to Museum
of Liverpool, a venue built to celebrate a city's history,
culture and people, past and present.
The Museum of Liverpool is itself a lasting legacy of Liverpool's
year as European Capital of Culture. It stands as a powerful
reminder that investment in culture creates benefits that endure
long after the spotlight has moved on - not only in our buildings
and public spaces, but in the confidence, pride and opportunities
it creates for communities.
We wish the hopeful towns every success and look forward to
seeing how their ambitious cultural visions continue to inspire
local communities and visitors alike.
The winner of the UK Town of Culture competition will go on to
host a season of culture in 2028, which will help them to
deliver a long-lasting legacy of cultural participation and local
pride as has been seen in previous winners of the UK City of
Culture competition; Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and
Bradford.
The government's ambition behind the competition is for towns to
reap similar benefits from the experience of bidding in the
competition and encouraging local residents to get involved in
cultural events to celebrate their town.
Competing for the title, irrespective of whether or not a place
wins, can have a hugely positive impact on the local
community.
Last year, as UK City of Culture 2025, Bradford led a
showstopping cultural programme of 5,000 events - over 75% of
which were free - that pulled in an audience of three million,
involved over 800 organisations, and resulted in capital
investment for more than 30 local cultural organisations.
Bradford's year in the spotlight also led to increased
opportunities for local people to get involved with events, with
over 100,000 residents taking part in key projects throughout the
year.
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