Thetford launches bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028
The winning town will receive £3m from the government
Thetford is making strides to be recognised as the UK Town of Culture 2028.
The government initiative aims to honour towns for their cultural contributions and provides communities with a platform to showcase their towns.
The winning town will receive £3m to support their cultural program for the summer of 2028. The two runner-up towns will each be granted £250,000.
Breckland Council, Thetford Town Council, and Norfolk & Norwich Festival have come together to form a bid for Thetford, focusing on its cultural heritage and diverse population.
The submission highlights Thetford's transformation from East Anglia's ancient capital to a modern town connected with notable figures like Thomas Paine and Maharajah Duleep Singh.
Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Breckland Council’s Leader, said: “Thetford is one of Norfolk’s great historic towns, with a proud past and a bright future.
"This bid is about building on the progress already being made, celebrating what makes the town special and opening the door to new opportunities for local people.
"It is a chance to bring Thetford to a wider audience, attract investment and show the country a town with real pride, character and ambition.”
Cllr Carla Barreto, Mayor of Thetford, emphasised the town’s strengths: “Among Thetford’s many great strengths are the diversity and vibrancy of its communities, which makes for a wonderful culture in the town. This bid presents a fantastic opportunity to showcase Thetford’s character on the national stage.”
Terry Jermy, MP for South West Norfolk, expressed his support: “I am fully behind Thetford’s bid to become a Town of Culture.
"As someone who has lived in the town my whole life, I know firsthand what rich history we have and our tremendous environmental assets, including the river.
"On top of this, we have a fantastic sense of community spirit. It’s clear we have all the ingredients to thrive, and obtaining formal recognition through the Town of Culture award will help us to further unlock Thetford’s potential.”