Wrexham has formally submitted its community-driven application to become the next UK City of Culture in 2029, positioning culture and playfulness at the core of its ambitions to revitalise the county.
Citizen-led bid
Spearheaded by the Wrexham Community and Culture Trust, an independent charity formed with backing from Wrexham County Borough Council, the Wrecsam2029 application builds upon the city's global standing for innovative playwork, its border region character, and centuries of entrepreneurial heritage and creativity.
After being longlisted earlier this year, the application channels this vibe into an ambition to establish Wrexham as a flourishing creative industries centre and a prominent cultural destination.
Vision for the world's most playful place
Amanda Evans, director of Wrexham's UK City of Culture 2029 Bid, said: "Here in Wrexham, we like to play. We play games, we play sport, we play music, we play characters at the theatre.
"We're playful, as we sing in bands and choirs, make art or simply get together, in families, as friends, and in our communities. In Wrexham, we take play seriously, as a radical exchange that is critical to creativity, collaboration, participation, social cohesion and well-being.
"Our vision is for Wrexham to be the world's most playful place, where playfulness informs every aspect of daily life and frames our emergence as a hotbed of creative enterprise and innovation, a globally significant visitor destination and a place where every young person gets the best possible start."
Community involvement
Thousands of local residents have played a pivotal role in shaping the community-driven proposal over the past four years, including more than 1,000 schoolchildren, local artists, businesses, and grassroots organisations.
Joanna Knight OBE, chair of Wrexham Community and Culture Trust, said: "At the heart of the Wrecsam2029 bid are the hopes and dreams of the people of Wrexham. It's a bid for local people by local people, building capacity in our communities to ensure every group and organisation feels invested and involved.
"Thousands of people have already collaborated in the development of our bid to secure this once in a generation opportunity to transform the lives of everyone in our county. Together, we will showcase and protect our cultural assets, heritage and landscapes, improve infrastructure for future generations and help our creative people and businesses thrive.
"The financial advantages of being awarded UK City of Culture status would undoubtedly have a tangible impact on people's health, wellbeing and prospects, and all the trustees are enormously thankful for the backing and goodwill shown by the wider community. The accolade could provide a tremendous economic uplift, drawing in excess of two million visitors and generating substantial investment to address the decline of local high streets and health inequalities."
Economic impact
Alwyn Jones, chief executive of Wrexham County Borough Council, said: "The UK City of Culture competition is unique in its ability to generate the change we want to see for Wrexham and the wider region.
"If we win, as well as the immediate £10 million award from HM Government, we anticipate it generating over £200 million for our economy.
"This would support our coordination of development activity, and our long-term culture-focused placemaking plan for Wrexham, which seeks to bring communities together, gives people a sense of ownership in shared spaces, and leaves no-one behind.
"Our Wrecsam2029 programme will be locally relevant, whilst also strengthening Wrexham's status as a destination for visitors from around the world."
Support and timeline
The bid is backed by more than 100 Ambassadors, amongst them Carol Vorderman, Matthew Rhys, and Colin Jackson. The shortlist is due to be revealed in mid-October, with the victorious city announced in early January 2027.
