Stockton-on-Tees shortlisted for UK Town of Culture
Flying flag for the North East
Congratulations to sunny Stockton which has made the cut for UK Town of Culture, being shortlisted in the small towns category.
To be precise, it’s the town centre ward (population: 7,300) that’s up for the prize – against rivals Ilfracombe (Devon), The Isle of Bute (Firth of Clyde), Lerwick (Shetland), Sandown (Isle of Wight) and Strabane (Northern Ireland).
That’s a canny tour if you were to visit all six – as the judges will now have to do.
Sir Phil Redmond’s up for it.
Chair of the nine-strong independent judging panel, he said the response to the Government competition had been “to say the least, overwhelming” with nearly 400 towns throwing their hats into the ring.
And he added: “I look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list and I am sure that, just like City of Culture, those that didn’t manage it will have found the experience of taking part worthwhile in strengthening partnerships, raising awareness and reminding us all of the depth and spread of the UK’s cultural landscape.
“I’d like to thank them all for that.”
Hopefully that will be a comfort to the 19 other North East towns that entered but weren’t shortlisted in any of the three categories.
Stockton has been in the news with its dramatic regeneration plans, demolishing buildings along its broad high street to create its ambitious Waterfront Park.
But is has been a cultural hotspot for years with its long-running Stockton International Riverside Festival (this summer’s 39th edition running from July 31 to August 2) and its busy arts centre, ARC. It also has a lively music scene with venues such as The Georgian Theatre and The Globe.
Only last year it was heavily involved in celebrating the Stockton and Darlington Railway bicentenary.
As Stockton councillor Nigel Cooke, cabinet member for culture, told the BBC: “We have a strong reputation and track record of promoting festivals in Stockton and we’re very proud of our cultural diversity in our community.”
The 15 shortlisted towns will now get £60,000 to work on their full bids with the winners in each of the three categories going forward as the final contenders to be designated UK Town of Culture 2028 and receive a £3 million grant from the Government.
The other two, as finalists, will each get £250,000 to carry out part of their programme.
Shortlisted in the medium towns category were Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd and Port Talbot.
In the large towns category (which Gateshead and Hartlepool entered) it was Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham that were shortlisted.