Scarborough Sets Sights on National Stage with 2028 Town of Culture Bid

Scarborough is embarking on a transformative journey as it prepares a bid to become the UK’s first-ever Town of Culture in 2028 but your help is needed.

The bid, which could secure a £3 million prize to fund a year-long cultural programme, coincides with a separate, substantial £20 million "Pride in Place" investment aimed at revitalising the town through community-led decision-making.

The UK Town of Culture competition, launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, offers a platform for towns to share their unique stories. For Scarborough, recognized as the nation's oldest seaside resort, the bid is seen as a landmark opportunity to showcase its rich theatrical and artistic heritage. Local leaders believe the title would not only increase community spirit but also encourage residents to engage more deeply with the cultural opportunities on their doorstep.

Alison Hume, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming cultural opportunities, noting that Whitby is also developing its own case for the title. Reflecting on the value of such initiatives, she stated:

"We've got a fantastic competition coming up, Town of Culture. I know that Scarborough and Whitby are both working on bids. The winning town will win three and a half million pounds. I'm really excited by that.

As a creative, I know that cultural things really absolutely make us feel better about life. We need wonderful kind of things to look forward to. We need to be able to walk through our town centres and feel proud and go to events that make us feel good".

The MP added:

“I’m delighted to see community consultations getting underway in Scarborough ahead of submitting a bid for Town of Culture.  

“Scarborough has an irresistible story to tell as the birthplace of theatre in the round, the first English seaside resort and the home of an incredibly rich arts, heritage, music and cultural scene. I’m really excited about our chances.”

The competition builds on the success of the City of Culture initiative. For example, Bradford, the 2025 City of Culture, saw a 25 per cent increase in city centre footfall during its spotlight year, with the majority of participants reporting an improved sense of pride and wellbeing.

Sir Phillip Redmond, the creator of Grange Hill, Brookside, The Courtroom and Hollyoaks, has been named as chair of the Town of Culture judging panel. 

As well as the overall winner, two runners-up will be awarded £250,000 each to deliver elements of their bids.

In Scarborough an online survey has been launched asking for peoples initial views on the town of culture bid and for their thoughts on what the bid should focus on. The survey at https://www.hello-arcade.com/projects/townofculture is open until the end of next month. (March).

Thomas Murray, Town Mayor and Chair of Scarborough Town Council, said:

“I’m fully behind Scarborough’s bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028. 

“It’s a great opportunity to bring the community together and celebrate all the things that make Scarborough great, as well as showcasing some of our cultural hidden gems. 

“I hope everyone takes the opportunity to contribute via this survey.”

While the Town of Culture bid focuses on a single year of celebration, the "Pride in Place" programme represents a long-term commitment, providing up to £20 million of investment over the next decade. Crucially, the process for allocating these funds is designed to be driven by the residents themselves. Ms Hume, who sits on the board overseeing the projects, emphasised the "bottom-up" nature of this funding:

"Scarborough is going to receive 20 million pounds of pride in place money for locals to decide what to spend it on. And as the MP, I'm part of the board and we're already looking at projects.

And this isn't a top- down initiative. It's a bottom up initiative. And we all know that maybe money has been spent on things that people don't agree with. There's no excuse this time".

This focus on community voice is a recurring theme in the town's current planning. 

The drive for improvement extends to the town centre and high street. The Scarborough Town Centre Team, a subgroup of the Scarborough Business Ambassadors, has been working alongside North Yorkshire Council to develop a Town Investment Plan. These efforts aim to address both the strengths and weaknesses of the town centre, acknowledging that public perception is vital for attracting visitors and securing future investment.

They are holding an event at the Stephen Joseph Theatre on February 26th to hear about North Yorkshire Council's priorities and plans for future investment in the town and to discuss what local businesses and organisations feel are the immediate and long-term priorities.