About the UK Town of Culture

The UK Town of Culture is a new national competition celebrating the cultural contribution of towns across the country. The successful town will receive £3 million to deliver an ambitious programme of cultural activity in 2028

Public Support Residents, businesses and organisations can support the bid by:

Signing up via the form on the website

Sharing stories, photos and experiences of Newark on social media via Facebook and Instagram @madeinnewarkuk

Promoting the town on social media using #madeinnewark

Youth Advisory Board:

Newark has a Youth Advisory Board who are advising on the bid including Sophie Dickinson – Chair, Ania Molenda, Eja Atkinson, Emilia Harris, Eve, Grace Carter, Hollie, Luke, Roo Boyd and TC.

Bid Group:

Rebecca Blackwood: Founder CoresetUK, Newark’s community arts organisation, Chair of Primary (Nottingham), trustee The Bowes Museum, Usher Gallery Trust, JR Heslam Trust.

Dawn Campbell: Leader Newark Town Council.

Louise Casey: YourCVS.

Rowan Cozens: ABRSM Examiner, International Adjudicator, Pianist, and Deputy Leader Newark and Sherwood District Council, Portfolio Holder Heritage, Culture and the Arts.

Sophie Dickinson: Chair Youth Advisory Board. David Fargher, Newark Guide.

Tom Martin: CoresetUK, University of Lincoln, UNESCO Chair on Arts-based Methods for Peacebuilding with and for Children and Young People.

Claire Penny: CEO The Social Action Hub (Registered Charity) and Newark &Sherwood District Council Portfolio Holder - Sustainable Economic Development.

Penny Taylor MBE: Head of Newark College.

Organisations that are required by the Department of Culture Media & Sport to be involved are an accountable body which for this bid will be Newark & Sherwood District Council and a delivery body which will be Newark College (Lincoln College Group). The Bid Group have appointed CoresetUK (Of Many Circles Limited) to be the Curatorial Lead for the Bid. The Group also includes National Civil War Centre and Palace Theatre (Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation), Newark Cultural Consortium (including NSDC Heritage and Culture, Inspie: Culture, Learning and Libraries, Newark Town Council, Newark Heritage Forum, Newark College and St Mary’s).