Lerwick on shortlist to be named UK town of culture
LERWICK has been shortlisted to become the UK’s first ‘town of culture’.
Fifteen towns are in the running for the title, after almost 400 places across the UK entered the landmark competition.
Shetland’s capital is one of just three Scottish towns on the shortlist, with the winner set to be announced early next year.
Shortlisted towns will each receive £60,000 from the UK Government to help prepare their final bids.
Lerwick is one of six ‘small towns’ in the running, with an independent panel set to nominate a best small, medium and large town to go through to the final round.
An overall winner from these three towns will be named the UK town of culture 2028, and will receive a £3 million grant from the government.
The additional two towns, from the other two categories, will receive £250,000 each.
Shetland Arts submitted an initial expression of interest to the UK Government for Lerwick earlier this year, on behalf of the Shetland Partnership.
The partnership brings together a wide range of local organisations, from Shetland Islands Council and the NHS to the UHI, NatureScot and the police and fire services.
A spokesperson for Shetland Arts told Shetland News that if Lerwick was shortlisted then this would “unlock funding to support the development of a bid for the £3 million prize”.
The Shetland Partnership will use the £60,000 to explain how they would use culture to celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling, empower their local communities and provide more accessible culture in their local area.
The UK Government said it received 398 bids for the inaugural town of culture title, with Lerwick one of six ‘small towns’ on the list.
Other shortlisted towns include Grimsby, Rotherham, Isle of Bute, Leith and Port Talbot.
Scottish locations such as Stornoway, Pitlochry, Kirkcaldy and Dumfries were all overlooked by the independent panel behind the shortlist.
The UK Government said its town of culture competition was part of its ambition to restore pride in local areas of Britain, and to deliver a “decade of national renewal”.
“Throughout this year, this competition – together with the UK City of Culture 2029 competition – will continue to shine a light on local visions and voices from across the UK to help encourage increased local investment, create a lasting sense of pride, and open doors to the arts and culture for everyone,” it said.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy offered a “massive congratulations” to the 15 shortlisted towns.
“The fact that we received so many applications just goes to show how proud people are of their towns.
“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.”
The full shortlist is as follows: Basildon, Birkenhead, Corby, Great Yarmouth, Grimsby, Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Leith, Lerwick, Pontypridd, Port Talbot, Rotherham, Strabane and Stockton Town Centre Ward.
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