UK Town of CulturE Competition

what is a ‘UK Town of culture competition’?

UK Government through DCMS have launched a competition to find the UK’s first Town of Culture.

This is a national competition. The winning Town will receive £3million to spend on a cultural programme. The programme will be delivered in 2028 and should celebrate what is unique about your place.

Longton? Really?

Yes! Longton! We are a UK Town of Culture!

The coal under our feet burned at the pitch needed to fire bone china ceramics which changed transport, trade routes, working practices and tea making the world over. Made everyone from miners to flower-makers, seamstresses, designers, gold-leaf hand-painters, transfer makers and packaging designers, we are a town of small scale innovators who have changed the world.

And we’re still here, doing it.

The home of everything from Belstaff to Bevan is still jam-packed with dance studios, ceramicists, brass bands, faith groups, snooker clubs, recording studios, boxing gyms, independent shops and makers, and a vibrant programme of events and celebrations.

There’s problems, we know it. This award can help.

Pledge your Support

OK! How Can I help?

Thank you! Help like this:

SHORT SURVEY Please help get us started with three quick questions about what Longton has made for the world.
Pledge your support by completing the form on this page.
Long Survey If you have more time this is a detailed survey to share stories of Longton and ideas for what a ‘wow’ year for Longton would look like. What only happens here? How can you tell if that someone is ‘Longton’? You can fill it in anonymously or you can share your email and keep in touch.
Host a community meeting. If you’re a venue, school, community space please consider hosting a meeting to get the town talking about what we want to celebrate, and who with. Email Isla to register.
Come and have your say at an open meeting (no need to book):
Saturday 14 March, 11am - 1pm at Longton Victorian Market
Tuesday 17 March, 5:30pm - 7pm at Longton Town Hall
Share the survey with friends and groups. The more results we have, the more we can demonstrate that the community want this.
Share photos and stories of Longton. You can send them by Whatsapp here
Show your support on socials. Use #LongtonTownOfCulture #Longton28 #StraightOutOfLongton

Who is doing this work?

Longton’s bid to be UK Town of Culture was initiated by Longton Exchange, announced by MP Dr Allison Gardner, and is being led by Urban Wilderness CIC. But it’s not ours, it’s yours.

We’re gathering support. Here’s a list of people who have pledged to work together to celebrate Longton and share our story on the national stage.