Going for it: Amble bids for Town of Culture 2028
Amble, Warkworth, Acklington and Hauxley have joined forces to bid for the UK’s first Town of Culture award.
Amble is one of the smallest to enter the competition, which is open to small, medium and large towns throughout the country. Over 230 towns have so far registered an interest.
📷 Luke McTaggart (Amble), Ann Burke (Warkworth), Steven Golding (Hauxley), representing three of the four parishes in the bid
The winner and runners up will deliver a vibrant cultural programme via arts, performances and workshops, aiming to encourage investment and develop a sense of pride in the area.
The winner will be announced early in 2027. The overall award winner will receive £3m, while two runners up will receive £250,000 each.
The bid was put together by Amble Development Trust, Amble Town Council, Warkworth Parish Council, Acklington Parish Council and Hauxley Parish Council.
Amble Mayor Luke McTaggart said: “It’s a real privilege to be representing the town at this special time for us, doubly so as I actually work in the arts myself! Both as an artist and as a curator and co-director of Dovecote Street Arts, organising different exhibitions and events.
What do you say to those who think Amble is a bit small to bid for a prestigious award like this?
“I’ve been born and bred in this town and know how special it is. We’ve got a resourcefulness and pragmatism that comes from facing the challenges presented by a decline in industry, as well as a warmth and generosity that binds our community together. I think being one of the smaller towns’ bidding puts us at an advantage – everyone loves an underdog and I think we’ve got exactly the kind of story DCMS are looking for.”
What does Amble have that the judges are looking for?
“The competition is all about our story, so we’re keen to take audiences on a journey from our bronze age beginnings, through our industrial past, to the vibrant, creative seaside destination we are today!
“Crucially though, we’re not doing it alone and we’ve joined forces with our neighbouring parishes, Warkworth, Acklington and Hauxley, using the common thread of the stunning River Coquet to share the diverse culture and heritage unique to our part of the region.”
If Amble won, what would we see happen?
“We’ve got an exciting range of projects and a dynamic and engaging programme planned if we were to win the competition. The community would be front and centre in this and we’d work with them to really make sure everyone’s voices are included.
We know how reliant the local economy is on tourism and winning Town of Culture would allow us to really broaden our events offering and drive town centre footfall to support local businesses. But crucially also, the prize could be used to leverage and unlock additional investment to tackle other issues across the town.”
Anna Williams
