– Town of Culture –
Weston-super-Mare is bidding to become the UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028!
Weston-super-Mare has always been a place full of creativity, from theatres, galleries and festivals to murals, street art and unexpected, unforgettable seaside spectacles. Over the past decade the town has hosted internationally recognised moments like Dismaland and SEE MONSTER which has put Weston on the map. Meanwhile local artists, communities and organisations continue to shape a lively programme of events and creative activity all year round.
Now Weston is putting that creative energy forward in a bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
UK Town of Culture is a new national competition that celebrates towns with strong identities, creative ambition and a great story to tell. The winning town will host a year of arts, heritage and community activity, bringing together local people, artists, organisations and visitors to tell the story of the place they call home.
For Weston-super-Mare, this is about building on what already exists, the creativity, the communities, the coastline and the confidence of a town that continues to surprise people. It’s a chance to shine a light on the people and projects already shaping Weston, while creating new opportunities for residents, young people, artists and local organisations.
Whether or not the town is ultimately selected, the bid is already bringing partners and communities together around a shared ambition: to celebrate Weston’s creativity and shape its future together.
Towns across the UK can put themselves forward through a national competition run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The first step is submitting an Expression of Interest, which sets out the town’s story, its ideas and how local people could benefit.
A shortlist of towns will then be invited to develop a full bid, with funding to help shape their plans with the community. From there, three finalists will be chosen, and one will be named UK Town of Culture 2028, receiving £3 million to bring a year of events and activity to life.
If Weston-super-Mare is successful, it could mean a year of events, performances, exhibitions and creative projects taking place across the town, from the seafront to neighbourhood spaces.
It would be a chance to shine a spotlight on Weston nationally, support artists and organisations locally, attract visitors and create opportunities for residents to take part. Most importantly, it would build on the creativity already here and help shape an exciting future for the town.
The bid for UK Town of Culture 2028 is being supported by a plethora of local organisations, councils and cultural groups working together to showcase Weston-super-Mare’s creative strengths.
– FAQs –
- 1) About Town of Culture
- 2) Weston's Bid
- 3) Timeline and Process
- 4) What happens if Weston is Successful?
- 5) What happens if Weston is Unsuccessful?
- 6) Funding and Costs
- 7) Impact and Benefits
- 8) Getting Involved
- 9) Contact and Updates
It’s a new UK-wide competition celebrating towns with strong cultural identity and big creative ambition. The winning town will host a year of arts, heritage and cultural activity in 2028.
No — this is the first UK Town of Culture competition. It builds on the success of UK City of Culture, see previous winners including Derry/Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and Bradford.
It’s about celebrating what makes towns special and using culture to bring people together. It also aims to boost pride, opportunity, creativity and investment.
Weston already has a bold and growing cultural story, shaped by its coastline, communities and creative energy. From Dismaland and SEE MONSTER to grassroots festivals and community arts, culture here is already making a difference.
Yes — towns are grouped by size so they are judged alongside places of a similar scale. Weston-super-Mare is in the large town category.
No. The Town of Culture bid is a separate project focused on culture, creativity and community.
We want to celebrate what Weston already does brilliantly and create new opportunities for local people, artists and organisations. It’s a chance to tell the town’s story with confidence and build something lasting together.
The bid has been developed by organisations, community groups, partners and residents. It has grown through the Heritage Arts and Culture Consultative Group (HAC), which is open and community-facing.
A wide range of local and regional partners are involved, including organisations in culture, health, education, business and community development.
Community partners have helped shape the bid from the start. If we progress, those conversations will continue across the town so more people can help shape the next stage.
The application covers Weston’s story, local needs, community involvement, programme ideas, accessibility, partnerships, funding and legacy. In short, it explains why Weston is ready and what Town of Culture could make possible here.
The bid explores themes that feel true to Weston, including coastal culture, creative health, participation, talent development and celebrating heritage and diversity. These themes give the bid shape while leaving room for community ideas to grow.
Weston already has a vibrant cultural life, from festivals and public art to creative spaces and nationally recognised projects. This bid builds on that momentum rather than starting from scratch.
Weston-super-Mare is submitting an Expression of Interest by the 31 March 2026 deadline. This is the first stage of the national competition.
It’s the first application stage, where towns set out their story, ideas and ambitions. Think of it as a short first pitch.
A shortlist will be chosen from the EOIs. Those towns will then be invited to submit a full application.
The shortlist is expected in Spring 2026. Shortlisted towns will then work on full bids over the following months.
The final decision is expected in early 2027. That’s when the UK Town of Culture 2028 will be announced.
In 2028. The winning town would host a year-long programme of activity.
It would mean a year of activity shaped by Weston’s people, places and creativity. It would also bring national attention and new opportunities for the town.
They could include festivals, exhibitions, performances, public art, workshops and heritage projects. Activity would happen in venues, neighbourhoods and outdoor spaces across the town.
There would be more chances to take part in culture, shape local activity and feel proud of the town. It could also open up opportunities for volunteering, learning and connection.
It could create new partnerships, audiences and opportunities to make and showcase work. Local businesses could also benefit from more visitors and a stronger year-round offer.
It could create more opportunities for young people through projects, training, mentoring and placements. That can help build confidence, skills and routes into creative careers.
The goal is lasting impact, not just a single year of activity. That could mean stronger partnerships, better infrastructure and more opportunities for local people in the future.
No. We want activity to happen across Weston, including neighbourhoods, schools, parks, community venues and the seafront.
Many would be free or low-cost so as many people as possible can take part. Some larger events may be ticketed, and some may use a pay-what-you-can model.
By working with the community to shape it, not making assumptions from behind a desk. Accessibility and inclusion need to be built in from the start, with local people helping define what that looks like.
Young people won’t just be invited to attend, they should help shape it too. That could include youth-led projects, workshops, commissions and creative opportunities.
We’ll look at things like participation, feedback, partnerships, economic impact and long-term benefits for the town. Success is not just about audience numbers, but what lasting difference is made.
The work won’t be wasted. The ideas, partnerships and energy built through the bid can still help shape future projects in Weston.
Yes. The relationships and conversations behind the bid already exist and will continue whatever the outcome.
The Expression of Interest is being developed mainly through existing staff time and partner input. At this stage, it is using current resources rather than requiring extra funding.
The overall prize fund is £3.5 million. The winner receives £3 million, the other two finalists receive £250,000 each, and shortlisted towns get £60,000 to develop a full bid.
It would be funded through a mix of government support, partner contributions, grants, sponsorship and other income. Like most large cultural programmes, it would be built through partnership.
The aim is to bring new funding and investment into Weston, not rely only on local taxpayers. Town of Culture is designed to attract wider support and economic activity.
Investment can bring more visitors, support local businesses and create jobs. It can also help build a stronger creative and visitor economy over time.
It could raise Weston’s profile, bring people together and create new cultural opportunities. It could also help attract investment and build confidence in the town.
Culture can connect people, build pride and create shared experiences. It can also give communities more chances to shape what happens where they live.
A strong cultural programme can attract more visitors and help extend the season beyond the summer months. That benefits hospitality, retail, creative businesses and the wider local economy.
Culture can support mental health, connection and wellbeing in powerful ways. Weston already has strong creative health work, and Town of Culture could build on that.
If the bid progresses, we want to hold community conversations across Weston so more people can help shape it. If successful, there would also be opportunities to take part, volunteer, collaborate and create.
Businesses can support the bid through partnerships, sponsorship, promotion and helping create a great welcome for visitors. Culture works best when the whole town gets behind it.
We’ll share updates through the Town Council website, social media and partner networks. If the bid progresses, we may also launch a newsletter and dedicated contact point.
You can contact Weston-super-Mare Town Council at development@wsm-tc.gov.uk
Updates will be shared on the Weston-super-Mare Town Council website and official channels.