“It’s a fantastic town with a proud history, strong communities and huge potential”
Filton in South Gloucestershire(Image: Google Earth)
Bristol may have not even made the shortlist to be the next UK City of Culture, but a number of towns in the West of England have thrown their hat into the ring to be the official Town of Culture too.
The Somerset towns of Watchet, Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon have all announced they have entered the national competition, which will see a ‘Town of Culture’ created for the first time in 2028.
And Filton has also entered, and has already been backed for the title by local MP Claire Hazelgrove.
The Labour MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to support Filton’s bid, which it said would ‘particularly strong and distinctive’.
Unlike other towns around the country with a strong music, arts or literary scenes, Filton is leaning into its strengths as a place known for the aerospace industry, and for being a town with a university.
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Filton’s bid to be the Town of Culture in 2028 has a three-word slogan – ‘Life, Lift, Learning’ – and if selected, the town council want to focus on bringing its residents into the decision-making around the year in the spotlight, with citizen panels, community ambassadors and ‘participatory governance’.
“Since being elected, I’ve been keen to highlight all that makes our community so special,” said Claire Hazelgrove MP. “The Town of Culture competition is an excellent way to do that, which is why earlier this year I wrote to all town councils across the constituency to encourage them to consider submitting a bid.
“I’m delighted to see Filton putting itself forward. Filton has an extraordinary story to tell – rooted in innovation, industry and ambition, from its rural origins to its globally significant contributions to aviation, aerospace and manufacturing, including Concorde, and more.
Claire Hazelgrove, Labour MP for Filton & Bradley Stoke(Image: Claire Hazelgrove/Labour)
“It’s a fantastic town with a proud history, strong communities and huge potential.
“I’ve already written to the Government’s Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, to make the case for Filton, following the official launch of Filton Town Council’s bid.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the bid develop and will be supporting Filton Town Council and the wider community every step of the way.”Filton’s proposal centres on the theme Life • Lift • Learning – a three‐part celebration of the town’s character and achievements,” she added.
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The Government will select one small, one medium and one large town as finalists later this year, and one town will be named UK Town of Culture 2028 and receive £3 million to deliver its programme during that year, while the remaining two finalists will each receive £250,000 to develop key elements of their proposals.
A spokesperson for Filton Town Council said: “The council is very keen that this will be a community led initiative, designed by residents, organisations, and businesses across the town. The bid will highlight the stories of working people and their dedication and skills.
“We will be seeking to engage with young people, especially those in apprenticeships and further education,” they added.