Wirral to submit two community led bids for UK Town of Culture 2028
Wirral is set to put forward two ambitious, community led bids for the UK Town of Culture 2028 programme - a new national initiative from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) designed to shine a spotlight on the cultural identity, creativity and heritage of towns across the country.
Wirral’s two submissions will be:
- New Brighton – applying in the Small Town category, led by The New Brighton Partnership
- Birkenhead – applying in the Large Town category, led by The Left Bank Collective
Each bid will be led by community organisations, ensuring it is shaped and driven by the people, partners and creative communities rooted in each town. Wirral Council will act as the accountable body for both bids, helping to support and facilitate the submission process.
The UK Town of Culture competition aims to celebrate the unique stories of towns across England and support them to develop bold cultural programmes that bring people together, boost pride in place and broaden access to cultural activity. As part of the process, DCMS will shortlist small, medium and large towns before selecting one overall UK Town of Culture for 2028.
The winning town will receive £3 million to deliver a major cultural programme in 2028, while the two other finalists will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their proposed programmes. Shortlisted towns will also receive a £60,000 grant from DCMS to support the development of their full bids.
Putting forward two bids demonstrates the strength, diversity and confidence of Wirral’s cultural landscape. While each town has its own identity and ambitions, both bids are united in celebrating community creativity, supporting local talent and creating opportunities for residents and visitors alike - showcasing what Wirral has to offer and supporting local economic growth.
Cllr Paula Basnett, Leader of Wirral Council, said:
Wirral has a rich cultural story to tell, and our communities are right at the heart of it. Putting forward two bids for Town of Culture 2028 reflects the strength, diversity and confidence of our borough.
Both Birkenhead and New Brighton bring their own distinct creativity and heritage, and these community led bids are an opportunity to shine a national spotlight on that brilliance. The Council is proud to support our local partners as the accountable body, helping each area to articulate its vision and celebrate what makes their place unique.
Jayne Casey, on behalf of the New Brighton Partnership, said:
The New Brighton Partnership is thrilled to have the opportunity to bid for New Brighton to become a ‘Town of Culture’
It’s a great show of ambition that there will be two bids from the Wirral, one from Birkenhead in the ‘Large Town’ category and one from New Brighton in the ‘Small Town’ category. We’d like to thank Wirral Council for supporting our bids.
We are feeling confident about our applications as we truly believe, that from big towns and small towns, colossal dreams are possible.
Craig Pennington, Future Yard CIC Chief Executive, on behalf of The Left Bank Collective, said:
Culture has shaped Birkenhead’s history and will be at the heart of our town’s future transformation.
This opportunity to shine a national spotlight on our unique story comes at a vital moment in Birkenhead’s development.
As The Leftbank Collective, we are deeply committed to partnership working, both with Wirral Council, and also our partners, friends and fellow protagonists in New Brighton.
Together, we will celebrate Wirral’s hopeful, positive, vibrant, proud and technicolour view of the world. In both our beautiful towns.
Under the DCMS timeline, Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 31 March 2026, with shortlisted towns to be announced in spring 2026. Those shortlisted will receive development grants to prepare full applications over summer and autumn 2026, with category finalists and the overall UK Town of Culture 2028 winner confirmed in early 2027, ahead of delivering their cultural programmes in 2028.
Follow the New Brighton Partnership here: Love New Brighton on Facebook, New Brighton Partnership, Love New Brighton
Follow the Left Bank Collective here: Future Yard, Make CIC, Start Yard, Open Door Charity, Make It Happen
