AMBITIOUS plans for Barnsley to become the UK’s first Town of Culture have fallen at the first hurdle after it failed to make the government’s 15-strong shortlist.
It was announced in February that a group of organisations were working together on a bid for Barnsley and secure the £3m prize to deliver a ‘transformational’ cultural programme.
The move was revealed at a meeting of the Barnsley Town Board, where members unanimously agreed to support a potential bid, paving the way for organisations such as the Civic, Barnsley Youth Choir, The Dearne Playhouse, Gary Clarke Company, Jolly Good Communities, Maurice Dobson Museum and Heritage Centre and Wentworth Castle Gardens to pledge their backing.
However, the government revealed that Barnsley’s bid submitted in the Yorkshire and Humber region’s ‘larger town’ category alongside South Yorkshire neighbours Rotherham had not been successful when ministers announced the shortlist last week.
Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham are among the larger places in the running, with Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd and Port Talbot also named.
Smaller places such as Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton round off the list.
Matt O’Neill, executive director for place, told the Chronicle: “While we are disappointed not to have been shortlisted, we are incredibly proud of the ambitious and collaborative bid we developed for Barnsley.
“The work has further strengthened our vision for culture and creativity in Barnsley and we’d like to thank the many cultural organisations, artists, communities and partners who came together to support the bid.
“We’ll continue working together using culture as a driver of pride, inclusion and economic growth across the borough.
“We’d like to thank all the many organisations, groups, individual artists and residents who contributed their ideas and shared their stories in supporting our bid.
“We’d also like to congratulate our neighbour Rotherham and all the other places who’ve made the shortlist.
“We’re already talking to our counterparts in Rotherham about how we maximise the benefits of Town of Culture for the region, including here in Barnsley.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added: “The fact that we received so many applications just goes to show how proud people are of their towns.
“When I launched this competition, I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life.
“I am so glad that so many towns applied and I hope each and every town, whether they have been shortlisted or not, is incredibly proud of the work they have done to champion their local community.”
The winner will go on to host a season of culture in 2028, which will help them to deliver a long-lasting legacy of cultural participation and local pride as has been seen in previous winners of the UK City of Culture competition.
The government confirmed 398 towns’ bids had been assessed before the shortlist was revealed.
Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond, said: “The response to the competition has been, to say the least, overwhelming, quite literally from all four corners of the UK.
“It has been fantastic that nearly 400 towns have come forward, sharing their sense of pride, ambition and desire to demonstrate how much they have, and continue to contribute to our national story.
“That of course has made making the decision on the shortlist itself much more difficult, never mind the actual winners.
I” look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list and I am sure that, just like City of Culture, those that didn’t manage it will have found the experience of taking part worthwhile in strengthening partnerships, raising awareness and reminding us all of the depth and spread of the UK’s cultural landscape.”
