Ilfracombe launches its bid to win £3m as first ever UK Town of Culture

Ilfracombe has thrown its hat into the ring with an ambitious bid to win £3million and become the first UK Town of Culture 2028.

The competition launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport invites towns across the UK to submit their bids for the transformational grand prize, with two further finalists standing to win £250,000 each for cultural projects.

Ilfracombe has announced an ‘exciting and ambitious’ bid which aims to showcase the town’s rich heritage, thriving creative community and growing national cultural influence.  

Barnstaple is another North Devon town vying for the title and for the winner, the £3m would be used to deliver a major cultural programme that could help transform a town.

Ilfracombe’s bid is led by One Ilfracombe, a partnership which brings together councils, local agencies, voluntary organisations and community groups.

Charmain Lovett, One Ilfracombe project officer, said: “We are so excited about this opportunity for Ilfracombe.

“The Town of Culture competition is all about sharing the unique story of your town and how it has contributed to UK culture, and Ilfracombe has endless stories to tell!

“From the history of our working harbour going all the way back to the 1200s through to the modern contribution of Damien Hirst and his 66-foot tall statue Verity, we have a huge history of feeding into the national cultural and heritage narrative.

“It also aligns with a lot of the other strategies we have through Ilfracombe Futures, Ilfracombe Town Council’s Strategic Plan and the Ilfracombe Culture Plan so it would be fantastic to tie the Town of Culture programme into the momentum that we already have.

“Coupled with our incredible community spirit and the vibrant cultural offering we already have, we know that our application is strong — and hopefully this lovely little corner of the UK can share its cultural might with the wider world.”

Ilfracombe is confident it has an already impressive cultural calendar, with much-loved events such as The Art Trail, Sea Ilfracombe, Ilfracombe Beer Festival, Green Man Day and Combe Christmas drawing thousands of people each year.

This year will also welcome exciting new additions including the Shanty Festival, Coast Week and the Ilfracombe Photography Festival, expected to attract visitors from across the UK.

READ NEXT: Thank you for the music – tributes pour in for Ilfracombe music promoter Ray

The town’s has a number of galleries - both professional and community-led - and thriving music and theatre groups, supported by the iconic Landmark Theatre, an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.

Plus of course there is Verity, Damien Hirst’s giant bronze statue gifted to the town for 25 years, that has served as a focal point to establish Ilfracombe as an arts and culture destination, as well as the backdrop for countless selfies!

Ilfracombe’s application is being shaped by One Ilfracombe’s vibrant Culture Club, a network of more than 100 artists, performers, venues, councils, museums and cultural organisers.

The town’s bid will be submitted by the March 31 deadline for expressions of interest, with shortlisted towns expected to be announced later in the spring.