Excitement is building in Great Yarmouth as community and arts organisations come together with the council to shape a bid to become the UK’s Town of Culture in 2028.
Expressions of Interest in the new competition have to be submitted to the Government by the end of March and community groups in the town today said Great Yarmouth was exceptionally well placed to make a strong bid for the title.
The competition will see a number of locations awarded £60,000 to work up a full bid for the prize – which will see one town awarded £3m to deliver an ambitious programme of activity for 2028.
Those behind the proposed bid say it will honour the town’s past and lay out a vision for future opportunities while reflecting the vital role of cultural activity and ensure a programme that is created with, by and for local people.
They explained Great Yarmouth is a town of cultural firsts and lasting legacies – the first people who crossed Doggerland to arrive on what is now Britain stepped foot here first. The UK’s first purpose-built theatre was built in the town, it created the first holiday camp and is the birthplace of the humble fish finger.
Julia Devonshire, Co-Director of Original Projects, which works with grassroots community groups, said: ‘’Culture in Great Yarmouth grows from lived experience — from heritage, geography and landscape – and from everyday acts of imagination and collaboration. A Town of Culture programme would be an opportunity to recognise the full breadth of what exists here.
‘’Great Yarmouth’s strength lies in its resourcefulness — the way people come together to make things happen, often with imagination rather than material abundance. There’s a generosity of spirit shaped by resilience, with people supporting one another, collaborating and caring deeply about the future of their place.’’
Debbie Thompson, Theatre Director of St George’s Theatre in the town, said: ‘’Great Yarmouth would be an excellent Town of Culture, with its history of some of the greatest popular artists playing here, through to having one of the last thriving hippodrome circuses and the annual international Out There Festival.
‘’The town is attracting an ever-increasing number of cultural organisations who want to be based here and there is a genuine and exciting momentum developing the cultural offer in the town. Now is the time for us to celebrate and build on what we have.
‘’The Town of Culture would bring a huge sense of pride to residents and a real sense of achievement and hope, at a time when we need to bring people together.’’
The Government says the competition is designed to celebrate cultural identity and demonstrate how culture can support regeneration, community cohesion, pride in place and economic growth.
Ruben Cruz, of Great Yarmouth urban arts organisation Reprezent Project, said: ‘’Great Yarmouth deserves to be recognised as a Town of Culture. It is rich in cultural diversity, heritage and community spirit. And from murals and street art, to festivals and grassroots initiatives, creativity is part of everyday life.
‘’Once known mainly as a seaside holiday destination, the town has evolved into much more. It has unique cultural features – such as the only Portuguese pavement in the UK – representing the influence of the Portuguese community and its ‘Little Portugal’ identity. In the past, the town was also known as ‘Greek Yarmouth,’ reflecting the many cultural waves that have helped shape it.’’
Councillor Carl Smith, leader of GYBC, said: ‘’Great Yarmouth repeatedly shapes the national story. We’ve weathered economic shocks, industrial change and environmental uncertainty. And the decline of traditional industries and the rise of overseas tourism deeply impacted the town and its people, but our town has evolved – undergoing its most significant programme of regeneration in a century. The tide is turning!
‘’2028 is a key year for Great Yarmouth: The beautifully restored Venetian Waterways will turn 100, the Hippodrome 125, and the Out There Festival will celebrate its 20th year and, of course, the Winter Gardens is set to reopen.
‘’We host the UK’s last remaining purpose-built circus building and the town is the recognised national capital for circus and outdoor arts. Our medieval Rows, town wall and seafront heritage buildings sit alongside the neon thrill of the Golden Mile. Town of Culture status would reflect our unique offer.’’
For any bid, the council would act as a strategic partner with the programme delivered via a partnership model involving the wider GY Cultural Network to enable specialist organisations to provide high-quality programming and community engagement.
The concept being drawn up in consultation with the GY Cultural Network and the public aims to build on themes reflecting Great Yarmouth’s character and opportunities. It is designed to support pride in the town, opportunities for young people, community cohesion, improved health and wellbeing, as well as growing the visitor economy and increasing town centre activity.
