Sandown’s ambitious bid to become the UK’s first Town of Culture has taken a major step forward after the seaside town was selected as 1 of just 15 places to progress to the next stage of the national competition.
The Isle of Wight town was chosen from almost 400 entries by an independent judging panel led by television producer Sir Phil Redmond and will now receive a £60,000 development grant to strengthen its bid ahead of the next round. The overall winner will receive £3 million to deliver a year-long cultural programme in 2028, while 2 runners-up will each receive £250,000.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Sandown launched its bid earlier this year with a vision of transforming the town’s fortunes by embracing both its rich heritage and its well-documented challenges. Under the theme of ‘Tide Turners’, the bid aims to inspire the local community to play a leading role in Sandown’s regeneration.
Mayor of Sandown, Alex Lightfoot, has said:
“This is a huge moment for Sandown and we are overjoyed. Our bid evolves from the community up and we aim to show how together we can be Tide Turners.”
The town now has until the autumn to develop and submit its full bid, with judges assessing how culture can help shape Sandown’s future and bring lasting benefits to the community.
Bid leader Tracy Mikich has thanked the judging panel for backing Sandown’s vision.
She said:
“In the spirit of the Sandown Clown, this is a giant high-stepping leap for Sandown. We had great fun as a community formulating an entry based on our incredible story, one that embraces glitz and decay, ebb and flow, and all the wonder we can envisage.
“Thank you for selecting us, watch this space.”
The bid celebrates Sandown’s unique identity, acknowledging its reputation as a traditional seaside resort that has experienced decades of decline while highlighting its ambition to become a thriving cultural destination once again.
The successful towns will be invited to submit detailed proposals over the coming months before finalists are selected. The winner of the inaugural UK Town of Culture title is expected to be announced next year.
Another April fools joke in July.
Lol
Crime culture more like, full of burnt out derelict hotels
etc etc
And the icing on the cake is that tourists pay to park
whilst local numpties compliments of SANDOWN TOWN COUNCIL
are allowed to evade paying parking charges by parking on the
pavement outside the old tourist information centre opposite
Sandown Pier in a “” WAIT FOR IT”” (A PEDESTRIANISED ZONE)
where families with young children run around.
WHAT A COMPLETE JOKE, SUMS UP THE ISLAND
Should re-name the island to ISLE OF JOKE
Do IW Council Civil Enforcement Officers not know where
Sandown esplanade is!, it makes one wonder.
there are a lot of cultures being grown in Sandown