Alison Hume, the Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby, has pledged her full support to both coastal towns as they prepare their respective entries for the first-ever UK Town of Culture competition.
The contest, which was launched by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy last autumn, seeks to provide a national stage for communities to share their unique heritage and revitalise local life.
The competition offers a transformative prize of £3 million for the winning town to deliver a year-long cultural programme in 2028. While Scarborough is positioning itself for the "medium town" category, Whitby is expected to submit a bid as a "small town". Ms Hume, who represents both communities, highlighted the distinct strengths each location brings to the table.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the dual challenge, Ms Hume stated:
"Obviously is the proud MP for Scarborough and Whitby. I'll be backing both towns. And fortunately, Scarborough will be going in for the medium town and Whitby, I believe, going in for the small town. Now, Scarborough's a bit further ahead in the process, so I've had more to do with that, but I know they're looking at a bid in Whitby. And I'm very excited about both.
The competition is a real opportunity for towns which have been overlooked to tell their story, to tell their unique story. And goodness only knows both Scarborough and Whitby have got fantastic stories to tell."
The bids aim to showcase the Yorkshire Coast's rich tapestry of history and arts. In Scarborough, the bid highlights include its status as the first English seaside resort, the Mesolithic site at Star Carr, and the Stephen Joseph Theatre, known as the birthplace of theatre in the round. Whitby’s case is built upon its world-famous links to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the historic Whitby Abbey, its maritime heritage through Captain Cook, and its vibrant modern music festivals.
Ms Hume elaborated on the cultural wealth of the constituency, noting:
"Scarborough with its being the first English resort. We've got Star Carr. We've got the Steven Joseph, the birthplace of theatre in the round, the new Scarborough Fair re-imagined. We've got the spa, of course. And then in Whitby, of course, we've got the the whole birth of Dracula, the Whitby Abbey, the Captain Cook, and the music festivals that go on there. So, you know, we really are spoiled for choice.
But the challenge will be telling a story. What's unique about the towns and why people should come to visit them as the town of culture. But you know, it's £3 million for the the winning town and then all of that comes with it. So very very nice opportunity."
The drive for the title has seen widespread local engagement. Scarborough has launched a public survey, running until the end of March, to gather residents' views on what the bid should focus on. Scarborough Town Council Mayor, Cllr Thomas Murray, described the bid as a "great opportunity to bring the community together and celebrate all the things that make Scarborough great".
Meanwhile, Whitby Town Council has officially backed its own bid following a presentation by Clair Stones, chairman of the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. Ms Stones noted that 2028 marks a "unique opportunity" as it coincides with the 300th anniversary of James Cook’s birth.
The competition is not limited to these two towns; Bridlington has also announced its intention to submit a bid for the 2028 title. Under the competition rules, shortlisted towns will receive £60,000 to develop their full proposals, and two runners-up will be awarded £250,000 each.
For Scarborough, the Town of Culture bid is being developed alongside a long-term "Pride in Place" programme, which involves a £20 million investment over the next decade. Ms Hume, who sits on the board for this initiative, emphasised that these projects are "bottom-up," ensuring that local residents have a direct say in how funds are allocated to improve their town centre and high street.
The deadline for expressions of interest is 31 March 2026, with a shortlist of towns expected to be announced by the judging panel, chaired by Sir Phillip Redmond, later this spring.
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