Hastings Town of Culture Bid Update
Groups across Hastings are starting work on the Town of Culture bid, supported and managed by Hastings Borough Council and Arts Hastings CIC.
The new Town of Culture government competition (see HIP 294) invites entries from towns across the UK. The winning town will be awarded £3 million to deliver a cultural programme in 2028, and the two runners-up will receive £250,000 each to deliver elements of their bid.
Hastings’ bid will be project managed and written by Arts Hastings CIC with input from across the cultural community and creative industry sectors. The council will remain the accountable body for the bid, providing governance, oversight and strategic support throughout the process.
For the initial expression of interest phase, the focus is on answering questions about how we want to tell our Hastings story; how culture can be used to build on local strengths and look to the future; addressing local priorities; and empowering communities to shape the eventual programme.
The first deadline is Tuesday 31 March. A public meeting is planned to take place in the next few weeks so that cultural organisations, artists, communities, education providers and businesses can feed into possible themes for the story. Details of the meeting will be announced shortly across social media and the council and Arts Hastings websites.
Cllr Julia Hilton, deputy leader of Hastings Borough Council and lead councillor for shaping places and local government reorganisation, said: “We know that we have amazing cultural and creative energy and expertise in our town, and we want to make sure this bid includes as many as it can. It is a chance for people across the town to learn new skills and share their creativity, for us to build a sustainable future for our incredible cultural sector and to highlight the role the arts play in supporting innovation, something our town is famous for.”
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