Twenty towns across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham have missed out on becoming the UK's first Town of Culture. The Government announced a shortlist of 15 locations for the inaugural 2028 title, drawn from nearly 400 bids nationwide. Only Stockton town centre from the North East and Tees Valley region made the cut, receiving £60,000 to develop a full bid.
Disappointment Across the Region
Among the unsuccessful bidders were Alnwick, Amble, Barnard Castle, Bedlington, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Hexham, Peterlee, Shildon, Ashington, Bishop Auckland, Blyth, Cramlington, Jarrow, North Shields, Redcar, Seaham, Stanley, Gateshead, and Hartlepool. Local leaders expressed disappointment but highlighted the cultural strengths of their communities.
North Tyneside mayor Karen Clark, who had hoped North Shields would win following its 800th anniversary celebrations, said: "While we are naturally disappointed that North Shields was not short-listed, we remain immensely proud of everything that the town achieved through the bid process and, more importantly, of the incredible cultural story it continues to tell." She added: "The story of North Shields is far from finished, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate and invest in the culture, heritage and people that make it such a special place."
Local Leaders Reflect on the Challenge
Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, acknowledged the difficulty of being selected from 398 bids. "It was always going to be a huge challenge for Ashington, Bedlington or Blyth," he said. "But every single person who stepped forward to support, contribute and champion these bids should be incredibly proud. Our communities and our culture deserve to be celebrated loud and proud. From the Pitmen Painters and Blyth Carnival to Bedlington Family Festival, our music, our dialect, our heritage and, most importantly, our people tell a story worth sharing."
Gateshead Council submitted a bid for the entire borough in March. Lindsay Murray, the council's service director for communities and culture, stated: "Whilst we're disappointed not to be short-listed for Town of Culture 2028, this won't stop us achieving great things for culture in Gateshead. We have a bold new Culture Strategy, Creative Spaces, and an exciting vision for Gateshead as a leading creative and cultural hub in the North East. Our ambition remains unchanged—to ensure culture is for everyone, everywhere in Gateshead. We have a great deal to be proud of, and even more to look forward to in the years ahead."
Jarrow Looks Ahead Despite Setback
The historic town of Jarrow submitted a joint bid with the local authority, neighbourhood board, and Jarrow Forward. Susan Wear, Chair of Jarrow Forward Neighbourhood Board, said: "Many thanks to everyone who got behind our exciting bid. The good news is Jarrow doesn't have to wait until 2028 to celebrate. The £20m Jarrow ten-year plan, reflecting what residents and young people said they wanted, was approved in April, and work is already underway to bring new events and opportunities to our town." She added that the neighbourhood board has committed £150,000 in Community Growth Grants for small projects, and a new fund will help young people find jobs. "We send our hearty congratulations to Stockton, representing the North East on the shortlist, a town that has invested in culture for decades, and will look forward to hearing more about their plans."
