Great Yarmouth makes UK Town of Culture shortlist
Glen GardinerGreat Yarmouth has made it to the shortlist for the UK's first Town of Culture.
It is among 15 towns which will now receive £60,000 to work on a full bid, with the winner to be announced early next year.
The Town of Culture 2028 - which attracted 398 expressions of interest - will ultimately be awarded £3m to deliver a programme of activities.
Speaking to the BBC, culture minister Ian Murray said getting to the final 15 was a "fantastic achievement" for Great Yarmouth, which joins Corby in Northamptonshire in the medium towns category. Basildon in Essex is shortlisted in the large towns group.
Great Yarmouth HippodromeThe seaside resort had formed a preliminary pitch based on its history and cultural opportunities for and by local people and pointed out that 2028 was a "key year".
Its restored Venetian Waterways will turn 100, the Hippodrome 125, and the Out There Festival will celebrate its 20th year. The Winter Gardens will also reopen after an £18m facelift.
Councillor Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said being shortlisted was "a tribute to the rich cultural tapestry of our amazing town and the people who call it home".
He added: ''Our entry obviously caught the judges' eye and we will now be pulling out all the stops to do Great Yarmouth and Norfolk proud in the finals. We want to win and have the opportunity to showcase our unique town and all it offers, across the UK and beyond."
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Britain will never lose its love of the seaside, and Great Yarmouth is one of the most iconic coastal towns we have.
''There's a real opportunity here to add rocket boosters to what's already special about Great Yarmouth, from its famous waterfront to its arts venues. I'm very excited to see what their full bid looks like."
More stories from Norfolk
Community groups who worked on the bid in March previously said the honour would be an opportunity to recognise the momentum in the town and the full breadth of what it had to offer.
''It is rich in cultural diversity, heritage and community spirit, and from murals and street art, to festivals and grassroots initiatives, creativity is part of everyday life," said Ruben Cruz, of urban arts organisation Reprezent Project.
Bids had also been put forward by the Waveney Valley, Wells-next-the-Sea, Aylsham, Thetford and a joint bid from Cromer and Sheringham.
In Suffolk, Felixstowe, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft expressed an interest.
The shortlisted towns were recommended by an independent panel chaired by screenwriter Sir Phil Redmond, who created Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks.
The shortlisted towns are:
- Ilfracombe
- Isle of Bute
- Lerwick
- Sandown
- Strabane
- Stockton
- Corby
- Great Yarmouth
- Leith
- Pontypridd
- Port Talbot
- Basildon
- Birkenhead
- Grimsby
- Rotherham
Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.
Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
