Belper Town Council announces its intention to enter UK Town of Culture 2028 Competition
Belper Town Council has announced its intention to submit an expression of interest for the newly launched UK Town of Culture 2028 competition, a government backed initiative celebrating the cultural vibrancy of towns across the country.
For the first time, towns of all sizes—small, medium and large—are being invited to compete for the prestigious title, which aims to promote “original storytelling and empowering, accessible culture”. The winning town will receive £3 million to deliver a six month cultural programme in 2028, while category finalists will each receive £250,000 to advance elements of their proposals.
Belper Town Council believes the town has a compelling story to tell and a rich cultural heritage that places it in a strong position for the award. As part of the process of submitting an initial expression of interest by the 31 March 2026 deadline, the Council has convened a small core group to begin early planning.
A key part of Belper’s approach will be extensive collaboration. The Council is already engaging with a wide range of community groups, creative organisations and members of the public to help shape the emerging bid. Should the initial submission be successful, the Council anticipates widening this involvement even further by working with the many passionate, hardworking groups already active across the town.
“Participation is the byword for the Town of Culture, no one should feel excluded, there is something for everyone from the very young to Belper’s elderly residents,” said Belper Town Mayor Carol Angharad.
A spokesperson for Belper Town Council said: “Belper has an incredibly strong cultural identity rooted in our heritage, a thriving community spirit and a diverse creative sector. This competition offers an exciting opportunity to celebrate everything that makes Belper special which will also enhance our cultural offer for residents and visitors to our town.”
The next public consultation will take place on Wednesday 4th March at Strutts Community Centre, 7 pm-9 pm. To register for a place please visit: Town of Culture 2028 – Public Consultation | Belper Town Council
Belper Town Council will continue to share updates on the process with residents, partners and stakeholders through its website and social media channels.
For more information, please visit: https://www.belpertowncouncil.gov.uk/ or to find out what is happening in Belper our Facebook page can be viewed here; https://www.facebook.com/TownCouncilBelper/
If you have any questions on the above, please contact;
Josh Grimshaw, Town and Project Officer
projects@belpertowncouncil.gov.uk
01773 822116
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