Ventnor is preparing a major campaign to be crowned the UK’s first ever Town of Culture in 2028, building on decades of grassroots creativity, a strong community spirit and its unique identity on the Isle of Wight.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recently announced it is seeking applications for the inaugural UK Town of Culture, a title that will come with a £3 million investment. In response, Ventnor is stepping forward with a bold, community-led proposal.
Local arts organisation Ventnor Exchange is coordinating the bid and will host a series of town meetings in the coming weeks to gather ideas and support. These public sessions will be held at Ventnor Exchange on Sunday 22nd February from 14:00-16:00 and Sunday 8th March from 14:00-16:00.
Feedback forms will also be available at the venue, which is open daily.
Jack Whitewood, Co-Director of Ventnor Exchange, has said:
“We want as many people as possible to share their views and get involved. It’s an opportunity to celebrate all that’s great about our town and the massive role culture plays, but also to think about the future and express as a community the story we want to tell.
“For a small town like Ventnor to win such an accolade and a £3 million investment would be truly transformative.”
Ventnor Town Council has already voted to support the application, and local Isle of Wight Councillor Ed Blake has also backed the initiative. He said:
“Whether it’s the Ventnor Comic Jazz Band, the community spirit or our smuggling ancestors, there are so many reasons to #VoteVentnor as the UK Town of Culture.”
The town has become a cultural hub over the last two decades, with venues like Ventnor Arts Club, Peer Studios and Ventnor Exchange joining longstanding institutions such as Ventnor Carnival, the town’s rugby and cricket clubs, and the acclaimed Ventnor Botanic Garden.
Creative businesses including Sophie Honeybourne Jewellery and Roake Clothing have transformed shops into working studios, while the annual Ventnor Fringe Festival has evolved into the UK’s largest town-based arts festival, attracting hundreds of performers each year.
Organisers say this distinctive, bohemian energy – entirely homegrown and community-driven – is exactly what makes Ventnor a standout candidate for the national accolade.
To find out more or participate in the bid, residents can attend the upcoming town meetings or visit Ventnor Exchange for more information.
Out of the other towns bidding on the Island, I think we can all agree that Ventnor wins hand-down when it comes to promoting culture and the arts. Good luck Ventnor!
Read this and had to check if it was April 1st