On Tuesday 31st March, Harrogate will officially Express Interest in bidding to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
The winner will receive a £3 million prize fund to deliver a year-long cultural programme.
The competition, announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), also provides £60,000 in development grants for shortlisted locations, while two runners-up will receive £250,000 each.
Key Details of the Award:
- Winner: £3 million funding to deliver a, transformative cultural program in 2028.
- Finalists (Runners-up): £250,000 each to deliver key elements of their proposed bids.
- Shortlisted Applicants: £60,000 grant to develop their full submission.
A new steering group has been formed with representatives from the cultural, public and private sectors in the town. Harrogate Town Council has given funding for the Expression of Interest (EOI) up to the value of £10,000.
Richard McTague, who owns RedHouse Gallery:
We’re in the contemporary art world and we’ve noticed that quite a few artists in recent years have chosen to move to the town and put down roots here, which is really encouraging.
We’ve also seen lots of independent bars, restaurants and artist studios opening which has created a real buzz here.
There are pockets of exciting things happening and if this bid could harness that energy and bring even more creative talents together, to tell a new, richer, more diverse story that would challenge misperceptions of Harrogate.
Craig Ratcliffe, music director at a local school and for the Harrogate Band:
Harrogate is a cultural hub for so many different things that go on already and it would be great to widen this even further. There are many people in Harrogate who feel these places aren’t their kind of thing. If we can widen participation in these venues and harness great outdoor spaces like the Stray, then we could do some amazing things, because the town’s got so much to offer culturally.
The steering group say that Harrogate’s UK Town of Culture designation would bring together the grassroots and established cultural organisations to celebrate its water heritage as a source of wellbeing, and if successful, the six-month programme will create opportunities for local people, showcasing the breadth of talent and diverse voices that make up the town, in a distinctive Harrogate welcome.
Establishment institutions such as the Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate Theatre and the historic Royal Hall will host a year-round programme of exhibitions and performances.
Community participation in grassroots activities is a strength of the town’s cultural life, including amateur theatre groups, brass bands and choral societies, sports and cycling events and volunteer-led cultural organisations including Harrogate Dramatic Society, Choral Society, Symphony Orchestra and Harrogate Band.
The steering group behind the bid hopes the Town of Culture competition will engage and inspire a new generation of local artists and creatives.
