Accrington set to bid to become first UK Town of Culture

A bid is being prepared for Accrington to be crowned as the UK’s new ‘Town of Culture’ in 2028.

The proposal is being worked up by Hyndburn Council in an ambitious pitch to win millions of pounds of government money.

The new UK Town of Culture competition, run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, celebrates the role culture can play in towns across the UK.

The winning town will receive £3 million to deliver a year-long cultural programme in 2028, with two other finalists receiving £250,000 to develop their cultural infrastructure and programming.

Hyndburn Council has committed £100,000 of additional funding in its 2026/27 budget to support culture and heritage activity across the borough including on the bid for Accrington to become UK Town of Culture 2028.

The Borough’s Culture and Heritage Investment Panel (CHIP) is working on an Expression of Interest for Accrington for the competition, with a submission deadline of March 31.

The additional budget funding will support cultural programming, community engagement, and heritage activity across Hyndburn, building on recent transformational investments including restoring Accrington Market Hall and town centre buildings, and the ongoing DOME heritage development project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Hyndburn Council culture boss Cllr Kimberley Whitehead said: “Culture and heritage are at the heart of Hyndburn’s identity and our future regeneration plans.

“From the invention of the Spinning Jenny to our world-renowned Tiffany Glass collection, from the Accrington Pals to our vibrant contemporary creative community, we have extraordinary stories to tell.

“This investment shows our continuing commitment to ensuring culture is accessible to everyone in our borough.

“Whether or not we’re successful with UK Town of Culture, we’re building a cultural offer that reflects the talent, diversity, and ambition of Hyndburn’s communities.”

Hyndburn Council’s Conservative group opposition leader Cllr Zak Khan said: “We fully support this.

“They have now to get on with completing the work in Accrington town centre so there is something to show the judges.

“We need to end the constant delays and for someone to have a bit of ambition and imagination about the town.”

The contest is inspired by the existing City of Culture programme.

The strongest bids will progress to a shortlist, with each shortlisted town receiving £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition.

Three finalists – one small, one medium, one large town – will be chosen.

The competition assesses bids on their vision, community empowerment, cultural quality and innovation, accessibility, and deliverability.

Hyndburn’s Expression of Interest being developed with CHIP will celebrate the borough’s legacy of innovation and making, from industrial heritage to contemporary creativity, and set out how the funding would create opportunities for young people and underserved communities to participate in and lead cultural activity.

Hyndburn Council will work with key partners including Super Slow Way, Haworth Art Gallery, Lancashire County Council, and community and voluntary sector organisations across the borough to develop the bid.