Aylesbury left off first ever UK Town of Culture shortlist with 15 finalists announced
Aylesbury was not named as one of 15 areas selected for the first ever UK Town of Culture shortlist.
Next year, the Government is set to name a UK Town of Culture and provide one area with a grant totalling £3 million.
In February, Aylesbury Town Council announced it was bidding to become the first ever Town of Culture.
Political figures involved in the bid hoped Aylesbury’s storied history, varied cultural offerings, and community spirit would appeal to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
However, yesterday the department announced its shortlists for three separate categories with no Buckinghamshire bids being named as finalists.
Here is the shortlist:
-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
In total the DCMS confirmed it received 398 bids across the three categories. All 15 finalists will be given £60,000 to develop their campaigns to become the ultimate winner.
A finalist from each category will then be selected, with the overall winner announced in early 2027. The funding for celebratory events and a year-long programme will be released the following year. Runners-up will also get £250,000 to run similar events.
Aylesbury Town Council leader, Councillor Richard Lloyd, said upon launching the bid in February: “I’m delighted the Town Council will be putting forward our bid to be the inaugural Town of Culture 2028. Aylesbury was referenced in the Domesday Book, hosted King Henry VIII, and more recently launched the careers of many of the country’s musical legends via the Friars Club. We’ll be working hard on our bid document and welcome suggestions from the public.”
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said the number of entries showed “how proud people are of their towns”. She said: “I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life.
“I am so glad that so many towns have applied, and I hope each and every town, whether they have been shortlisted or not, is incredibly proud of the work they have done to champion their local community.”