Herefordshire could become the first county to be named UK City of Culture after the local authority announced its intention to bid for the 2029 competition.
Herefordshire Council said it had submitted an initial Expression of Interest (EOI) to the government, a zero-cost commitment at the start of a lengthy process even before shortlisting.
If successful, the county would potentially receive up to £10m in funding and succeed previous winners Derry (2013), Hull (2017), Coventry (2021) and Bradford (2025).
“This is a partnership bid for a rural county with big ambitions,” councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, the council’s cabinet member for culture and environment, said.