Stockton Town Centre Ward named on shortlist for first UK Town of Culture

Stockton Town Centre Ward is among fifteen towns shortlisted to become the UK's first Town of Culture, after the government received 398 bids from more than 400 towns across the country.

The competition is split into three categories. Stockton Town Centre Ward is on the small towns list alongside Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown and Strabane. The medium towns are Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd and Port Talbot, and the large towns are Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham.

Each shortlisted town will receive £60,000 to develop its full bid, setting out how it would use culture to celebrate the town, showcase original storytelling, empower local communities and provide more accessible culture in the area. An independent panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond will recommend the best small, medium and large town, and the overall winner will be named UK Town of Culture 2028 and receive a £3 million government grant. The winner is due to be announced early next year.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "The fact that we received so many applications just goes to show how proud people are of their towns."

Sir Phil Redmond said the response had been "overwhelming, quite literally from all four corners of the UK", adding: "I look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list."

The government said the competition, together with the UK City of Culture 2029 competition, is part of its ambition to restore pride in local areas, following the announcement of the Pride in Place Programme last year.