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Droitwich Bids for UK Town of Culture Glory
23 Mar
Summary
- Droitwich aims for UK Town of Culture title in 2028.
- A £3m prize is offered to boost the winner's cultural events.
- The town highlights its Rik Mayall festival and rich history.
Droitwich Spa is preparing to bid for the 2028 UK Town of Culture title, a prestigious award that comes with a £3 million prize. The initiative, driven by local volunteers and theatre bosses, aims to finance a year-long program of cultural events designed to enhance tourism and community engagement.
Theatre representatives highlighted Droitwich's strong cultural offerings, including the successful Rik Mayall comedy festival, its historical links to Shakespearean figures like John Heminge, and the legacy of industrialist John Corbett, known as the 'salt king'. They emphasized that smaller towns deserve recognition for their unique contributions.
Government guidelines require towns to express interest by the end of March. Shortlisted candidates will receive £60,000 to develop detailed proposals, with the winning town and two runners-up receiving substantial funding for cultural programming in 2028. Several other towns, including Malvern, Ross-on-Wye, and Ledbury, are also preparing bids.
