‘Shout about the rich history’ - South Tyneside towns have the chance to be named UK’s Town of Culture
Towns in South Tyneside have the opportunity to be crowned the UK’s first Town of Culture.
Towns across the country can now bid to become the UK’s first Town of Culture, with the winner set to be given the opportunity to deliver a vibrant cultural programme that enables them to invest in their local area.
Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, announced plans for the inaugural Town of Culture competition in October 2025.
The competition is open to small, medium and large towns - meaning that South Shields, Hebburn, and Jarrow all meet the criteria for the competition.
Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, has highlighted that the competition would give towns in the borough the perfect opportunity to showcase their history and culture.
She said: “My Jarrow and Gateshead East constituency is historic - not only is Jarrow home to the Venerable Bede and the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, the formidable Red Ellen Wilkinson, the Jarrow March, and the invention of the Davy Lamp in Hebburn.
“From our shipping and mining heritage to the modern day, our community is steeped in history that continues to shape our culture.
“It would be excellent to see our towns and villages apply and shout about the rich history and culture that makes up Jarrow and Gateshead East!”
Emma Lewell, MP for South Shields, has echoed the call for towns in the borough to showcase their culture and heritage with an application for the competition.
She commented: "For a small town, South Shields has made huge cultural contributions, way beyond its scale.
“From literature, to the visual and performance arts, as well as to entrepreneurship and ingenuity, we punch above our weight.
“We can claim Dame Catherine Cookson, Eric Idle, Amy Flagg, William Wouldhave, Jade and Perrie, Jo McElderry, Chris and Rosie Ramsey, Charles Napier Hemy, Ridley Scott, Tish Murtha, Sarah Millican and of course our beautiful Sheila Graber as our sons and daughters, to name just a few!
“I know there are so many more.
“We have been called 'the small town with a big heart'.
“We are also the small town with a list longer than my arm of people woven into our cultural tapestry no wonder I am proud to represent it.
“We should absolutely showcase this with an application to be Town of Culture 2028.”
Towns must submit an Expression of Interest by March 31, 2026, which will then be judged by an independent panel, chaired by Sir Phil Redmond.
The strongest bids will progress to a shortlist and each shortlisted town will receive £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition.
Three finalists, one small, one medium and one large town, will be chosen and the winner will be crowned the UK Town of Culture 2028 - receiving a £3million prize.
The two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of what they put forward in their bid.
Organisers have stated that the shortlist of towns progressing in the competition is expected to be announced this Spring.