Stuart Anderson MP hopes that a South Shropshire town will be nominated in the Town of Culture Competition that has recently been announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Ministers have said that the new competition will build on the successes of the UK City of Culture Programme, which has seen significant lasting impacts across winning cities such as Hull and Coventry.
The Government has announced that the winning town will be awarded £3.5 million to help them deliver a cultural programme during the summer of 2028. Meanwhile, shortlisted towns will receive £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition.
Applications for the competition will be judged on three main criteria:
- Your story - the unique story of the town
- Culture for everyone - how the town will design a cultural programme for all
- Making it happen - how the town will then deliver a successful programme
The competition is part of a package to boost pride in place by enabling towns to tell their unique story. As part of his campaign to unleash rural prosperity, Stuart hopes to attract funding to deliver support for towns across South Shropshire.
Ahead of the competition being launched, Stuart has urged residents to complete a new online survey. The survey asks residents to nominate a town and give a reason for their nomination. The feedback will then inform Stuart as he supports local campaigns.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
“Our local communities are what makes South Shropshire such a wonderful place to live, work, and visit. They are where we trade, enjoy our free time, and come together with one another. Our local communities are also a major tourist attraction, with the beautiful market towns providing fantastic food and cultural entertainment. From the thousands of responses to my Shop Local Survey, I have heard just how much people appreciate their local community. I hope everyone will support my campaign to ensure that South Shropshire features prominently in the new Town of Culture Competition that the government has recently announced. As part of my survey, I want residents to nominate a town in South Shropshire and give a reason for their nomination. The feedback will then inform my next steps.”
The Government said that applications for Town of Culture 2028 will open shortly.
