Three North East towns in battle for Town of Culture 2028 title
Bishop Auckland in County Durham, Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland, and Sam Fender’s hometown of North Shields in North Tyneside will go head-to-head for the accolade.
Launched last year by the government, the competition mirrors that of City of Culture and comes with a £3m prize fund for hosting cultural events.
Run by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport, the aim is to boost tourism, investment, and regeneration in the chosen town.
Berwick’s bid is being put together by local organisations including the council, The Maltings, and Berwick Barracks.
The Maltings is currently in the middle of a £28m revamp, with the flagship cultural project receiving an additional £4m in funding in November to keep the project on track.
Bishop Auckland’s bid includes how the town ‘gave birth to the calendar’ through St Bede, is part of the ancient pilgrimage route Camino Ingles, and – furthering the Spanish connection – has a strong arts presence, including the Spanish Gallery, as well as a history of mining artists.
North Tyneside Council is the latest authority to announce its entry, putting North Shields forward just after it celebrated its 800th birthday.
Deputy Mayor Carl Johnson said: “We know how much potential there is here with our rich cultural and heritage offer, active community organisations, and the strong identity and distinctive character of North Shields.”
Organisations have until 31 March to complete an expression of interest and a winner will be announced in 2027.
