Newport has confirmed its intention to enter the UK Town of Culture competition, which is run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to celebrate the unique stories of towns across the country and their contribution to national cultural life.
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans put the proposal to both Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council and the Newport Business Association, which were unanimously supported. The bid will now be taken forward through the Shaping Newport partnership as a community-led application.
The Town of Culture competition sits within the Government’s wider Pride of Place agenda, recognising the power of culture to strengthen communities, boost confidence and create opportunity. Newport’s bid will focus on participation, skills, volunteering and creative pathways – ensuring people don’t just attend events, but help shape and deliver them.
Newport is the Island’s cultural hub – a working town where creativity is part of everyday life. It is home to:
- 3 theatres, events and multiple live performance spaces
- Carisbrooke Castle, one of the Island’s most significant heritage sites
- A Roman villa, linking the town to its ancient past
- Museums, the Minster, archives, historic collections and buildings
- A strong visual arts scene, with galleries, studios and makers
- Colleges and schools nurturing creative talent
- A vibrant grassroots music scene
Newport also hosts the world-renowned Isle of Wight Festival, one of the most iconic music festivals in the world, with a global reputation for excellence.
The county town’s story reflects the story of many towns across the UK: heritage and innovation, challenge and reinvention, pride and community. From Roman settlement to medieval market town, maritime trade, industrial change and modern creative enterprise, Newport has continually evolved.
Councillor Jones-Evans has said:
“This competition is about towns telling their own story, in their own voice. As the county town, Newport is well placed to help showcase the Island’s culture, creativity and communities on a national stage.
“What makes Newport special is our scale and our spirit. We’re small enough to collaborate properly, but ambitious enough to deliver big ideas. Culture already happens here every day – this bid lets us amplify it and share it with the country.”
The impact of national culture titles is well evidenced, with previous UK City of Culture winners such as Derry~Londonderry, Hull and Coventry seeing long-term benefits including investment, increased footfall, skills development, civic pride and stronger community cohesion.
Councillor Jones-Evans adds:
“I visited Bradford in September and saw first-hand what this kind of designation can achieve. There was a real sense of pride, millions of pounds of investment in the city and a genuine feeling of communities coming together. It wasn’t just about events – it was about confidence, belonging and people feeling proud of where they live and what they can achieve together.
“That’s exactly what I’d love to see for Newport. This isn’t about a single year – it’s about long-term transformation, creating opportunities for young people, supporting our creative economy and strengthening our sense of place”.
Creatives, artists, musicians, event organisers, venues, schools, colleges, heritage groups, writers, storytellers, businesses and residents are being invited to get involved.
The first opportunity to get together will take place at the Creative Island Newport Town Conversation on Monday (19th January) at 18:00, at the Lord Louis Library. Details at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/newport-town-conversations-tickets-1977268287675.
This session will begin building partnerships and shaping the vision for the bid.
Bradford is a city with plenty of culture, Newport lacks culture.
Newport needs more diversity.