Culture Secretary Hails Over 400 Towns Competing for Prestigious UK Town of Culture Title

The Museum of Liverpool recently played host to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who attended a digital exhibition showcasing postcards from towns vying to become the inaugural UK Town of Culture. This event coincides with the ongoing process of narrowing down 398 applications from more than 400 towns across the UK to a final shortlist.

Celebrating Local Pride Through Postcards

In a bid to honour the local pride embedded in each submission, every town that entered the competition was invited to send in a postcard highlighting their unique qualities. These postcards were displayed digitally at the Museum of Liverpool on Thursday, 2 July, celebrating the diversity and individuality of the participating towns.

During her visit, Nandy, alongside Sir Phil Redmond, who chairs the independent judging panel, explored the exhibition as the anticipation builds for the announcement of the shortlisted towns in the coming weeks. This occasion marks a return to the city that was named European Capital of Culture in 2008, a distinction that inspired the establishment of the UK’s own City of Culture competition.

Voicing the Stories of Communities

In her remarks, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasised the importance of inclusion in the national narrative, stating: “For far too long, towns across the UK have felt left out of our national story. Today we celebrate the local pride that has always existed in towns around the country within this amazing display of postcards from bidding towns.”

Nandy expressed her desire for the UK Town of Culture initiative to highlight the significant contributions these towns make to national life, encouraging community pride through their participation in the competition.

Sir Phil Redmond echoed her sentiments, noting the impressive number of towns that entered the competition. He remarked on the overwhelming desire of communities to showcase their pride, explaining that the postcards serve as a collective snapshot of identity and contribution to the national story. He added that these postcards, along with the towns’ initial bids, will become part of a national archive, enabling future generations to appreciate this significant cultural milestone.

Encouraging Local Investment and Cultural Engagement

The UK Town of Culture competition aligns with the government’s broader ambition to instil pride across every region of Britain. By illuminating local visions and voices, the competition aims to foster local investment, cultivate a lasting sense of pride, and broaden access to the arts for all. Following the exhibition, the postcards will be retained within the National Museums Liverpool’s collection, signifying the importance of this cultural moment.

Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool, welcomed the Secretary of State, highlighting the museum’s role in celebrating Liverpool’s rich history and culture. She noted that the Museum of Liverpool serves as a lasting legacy of the city’s time as European Capital of Culture, illustrating how investment in culture yields enduring benefits for communities beyond the immediate spotlight.

Looking Ahead to Cultural Opportunities

The winner of the UK Town of Culture title will host a cultural season in 2028, aiming to create a lasting legacy of cultural participation and community pride, akin to the successes of previous UK City of Culture winners, including Derry-Londonderry, Hull, Coventry, and Bradford.

The government hopes that the experience of competing for this title will inspire towns to engage locals in cultural events, fostering a sense of community pride regardless of the outcome. The recent example of Bradford, which hosted a spectacular cultural programme as UK City of Culture 2025, illustrates the potential impact of such initiatives. With over 5,000 events—75% of which were free—Bradford attracted three million attendees and involved more than 800 organisations, significantly enhancing opportunities for local residents to participate in cultural activities.

As the competition progresses, the government remains committed to ensuring that towns can derive meaningful benefits from their involvement, encouraging a vibrant cultural landscape that celebrates every facet of British life.

For further exploration, all entries and postcards can be viewed on a new interactive UK Town of Culture map.