A culture contest right across the country - Ian Murray
The UK’s cultural landscape is the envy of the word. But all too often, the communities living outside the big urban centres can feel excluded and ignored.
It doesn’t need to be very far: growing up on a housing estate in Wester Hailes, I lived just a 20-minute bus journey from the Edinburgh festivals, but they might as well have been worlds away.
Culture is not the preserve of a select few, however, nor limited to concert halls and art galleries. It can be, and should be, found everywhere - in every community.
The UK City of Culture has been running for over a decade and has been a huge success. To celebrate that fact, the Labour government has this week announced that the hunt is on for the inaugural UK Town of Culture, with applications now open to towns of all sizes. It’s all about championing the unique contribution towns make to our national story, powering economic regeneration and opening the arts up to people of all backgrounds.
The winner, which will be judged by an expert panel, will be crowned UK Town of Culture 2028, and will receive £3m to deliver a vibrant cultural programme for their community, while the two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their bids. But the taking part will count, too. It’s my hope that the bidding process itself will bring a range of benefits to all towns who apply, whether that’s showcasing local culture or creating networks in the community.
The search is also on for the UK City of Culture 2029, with the winner bagging £10m. It’s not only open to cities: larger towns, regions and groups of places can apply too.
The two competitions will run side by side to celebrate the cultural life of our towns and cities. What’s more, they’ll be an engine of economic regeneration, supporting local businesses and jobs and driving growth and opportunity in all our communities.
The City of Culture has brought transformational benefits to its four winners so far. It’s projected to bring £389mn to Bradford, the most recent title holder, and it increased city centre footfall by 25 per cent; 80 per cent of residents say it has made them feel proud of their city. That’s culture as a catalyst for renewal.
As a Minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, I’m especially keen for towns and cities here in Scotland to put in bids. Scotland is a cultural powerhouse, from our internationally renowned industries in gaming, TV, film, theatre, festivals and comedy, right down to the grassroots.
Think about how wonderful it would be to see a town or city here in Scotland crowned Town or City of Culture, and what a powerful story of hope and optimism it would tell.
All of this comes alongside the Labour government’s Pride in Place programme, which is providing £10bn to hundreds of towns across the country whose communities have been left behind by successive SNP and Conservative governments north and south of the border.
That’s vital money for revitalising high streets, improving housing, creating new transport links and improving safety. Four communities right here in Edinburgh are set to receive funding.
Reversing decline, investing in communities and restoring pride: that’s what this Labour government is all about.