Five areas of Merseyside are currently awaiting the shortlist for the inaugural Town of Culture 2028, a government initiative designed to celebrate communities of all sizes across the nation. The shortlist is expected imminently, with winners announced in early 2027. The victorious town will receive £3 million to execute a six-month cultural programme.
Funding and Categories
Shortlisted towns will be granted £60,000 in seed funding to develop their final bids. Three finalists will then be selected, with the two runners-up each receiving £250,000 to bring smaller aspects of their proposals to life. Birkenhead is competing in the large town category, while Bootle, Prescot, and Widnes are in the medium town group, and New Brighton is vying for the small town award.
Prescot's Bid: Shakespearean Heritage and Regeneration
Prescot, nominated by Knowsley Council, is highlighting its Shakespearean connections and recent town centre regeneration. The historic market town was a medieval trade hub and later a centre of watch and clock-making. After craft manufacturing declined, electrical engineering became dominant, with BICC as a major employer until the 1980s.
Recent regeneration projects aim to transform Prescot into a cultural destination. Council leader Cllr Graham Morgan stated, "Prescot is full of rich history. We've seen how culture can connect and empower, acting as a catalyst for regeneration. The Shakespeare North Playhouse has spurred investment in independent bars and restaurants."
Support from local celebrities like actress Sue Johnston and writer Ashleigh Nugent bolsters the bid. Nugent's poem recounts Prescot's history, including Baron William Dacre's 14th-century market charter and the town's 16th-century Shakespearean theatre, one of few outside London.
Cllr Morgan emphasized community backing: "Most important is support from local schools, businesses, and visitors." He noted Knowsley Council's track record, having delivered over 60 events as the City Region's Borough of Culture in 2022. Winning would allow Prescot to become "a living stage where heritage inspires local talent."
Lisa Allen, CEO of Shakespeare North Playhouse, said, "Community sits at the heart of everything. Prescot's story is about people, partnerships, and creativity. This bid celebrates collaboration and ensures communities shape Knowsley's cultural future."
Bootle's Bid: Community Pride and Grassroots Culture
Bootle, in Sefton, began as a separate village but grew with the Industrial Revolution. After WWII, economic decline hit as Liverpool Docks waned, but regeneration now aims to revitalize the area. Bootle's bid emphasizes community pride, with a programme of arts, music, performance, heritage, and wellbeing activities led by locals.
Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson said, "Bootle's got all the bells and whistles: community, personality, culture through Salt and Tar, and strong partnerships." Salt and Tar, an outdoor events venue, hosts acts like Billy Ocean, Tom Jones, Nile Rodgers, and The Waterboys. Atkinson added, "The deciding factor for Town of Culture is the people."
Claire Morgans, CEO of Ykids charity, described Bootle's community as "creative and resourceful." She noted grassroots initiatives like community pubs, music festivals, a literary festival, and dance schools. "Arts and culture can transform a community, bringing hope and imagination," she said. Bootle Children's Literary Festival engages 15,000 people over three weeks.
Morgans believes winning the title would boost investment and instill "pride in place." She added, "Bootle gets knocked by people who don't live here, but this community is amazing and resilient."
Other Bids: Birkenhead, New Brighton, and Widnes
Birkenhead's bid is led by The Left Bank Collective, highlighting the Williamson Art Gallery, which approaches its 100th birthday in 2028. The gallery houses Wirral's art collection and the UK's largest public collection of Della Robbia pottery.
New Brighton's bid focuses on its waterfront, historic sites like Fort Perch Rock, and the arts scene at the Floral Pavilion Theatre. Proposed activities include winter light installations and summer spectacles.
Widnes' bid, led by Halton Council under the banner "All Roads Lead to Widnes," celebrates industrial heritage, bridges, rugby league roots, and music history. It references the 1990 Stone Roses gig at Spike Island, connections to Freddie Mercury, and the story that Paul Simon wrote 'Homeward Bound' while waiting at the station.
