The winning town will receive £3million to run a huge programme of Arts, Culture and Creativity in 2028.
Sutton could be on the cusp of something massive! We have a bold, once-in-a-generation ambition: to become the UK’s inaugural Town of Culture.
Ashfield District Council and Ashfield Arts Partnership have put Sutton forward for the national prize to put Ashfield firmly on the map as a cultural destination.
Sutton has a unique voice and it deserves to be heard by the rest of the country. For an unassuming, former industrial town, there are pockets of unexpected culture everywhere you look. From a world-class planetarium at Sherwood Observatory, Cornerstone Theatre at Sutton Community Academy, and the 19 th Century stone
Lindley’s Mill hidden on a residential estate, to England’s oldest surviving railway viaduct at Kings Mill Reservoir. Go back a couple of centuries and you’ll find stories of rebels and riots with Jeremiah Brandreth leading the Pentrich revolution and the textile riot of 1811.
Large-scale events like Light Night in 2022, and Ashfield Show, and the smaller workshops and activities being ran by Ashfield Creates, prove that Sutton has an appetite for cultural activities and winning the Town of Culture would allow Ashfield Arts Partnership to continue to provide these for the town.
We need your support and engagement to help our bid!
Applying for UK Town of Culture builds on the collaborative spirit that defines Ashfield Creates. Working with residents, artists, and organisations to shape our shared cultural future.
We need your input to make our Expression of Interest as strong as possible. Please take a few minutes to fill out our short survey linked below and share your vision for Sutton 2028.
What could a Town of Culture Look Like?
Imagine the possibilities! Major investment, new partnerships, and unprecedented opportunities that will fundamentally transform our cultural landscape. From headline-grabbing events to vital grassroots activity, 2028 could see Sutton absolutely vibrant with creativity at every single level.
Whether you’re a resident with great ideas, a local artist with vision, a community group that brings people together, or a local organisation ready to partner, this is your moment to contribute to a major historical achievement for Sutton.
