Beverley Town Council has today officially submitted its Expression of Interest to become the UK Town of Culture 2028, marking a major milestone in a journey shaped by months of community ideas, cultural collaboration and town-wide creativity.
The submission follows extensive engagement across the town and beyond, including contributions from residents, young people, cultural organisations, festivals, faith groups, businesses and community partners. More than 450 residents took part in local surveys, alongside in-depth workshops with the Beverley Cultural Network, whose members have helped shape the creative vision at the heart of the bid.
Mayor of Beverley, Cllr Alison Healy, said:
“This bid reflects Beverley at its very best: creative, welcoming, proud of its heritage and confident about its future. The response from residents and partners has been overwhelming—this is truly a bid shaped by the people of Beverley. We’re incredibly excited to share it, and hopeful that we will be shortlisted.”
A Bid Rooted in Beverley’s Story – and Its Future The Expression of Interest highlights Beverley as:
A town built on 1,300 years of craft, music, learning and sanctuary, inspired by its founder St John of Beverley.
A cultural hub for the wider East Riding, home to nationally recognised festivals, historic venues and a vibrant creative sector.
A place where community, heritage and contemporary creativity meet, from Beverley Minster and St Mary’s to the Westwood, the Beck, our markets and our modern cultural spaces. The proposed Town of Culture programme focuses on three core themes that emerged strongly through public engagement:
• Craftsmanship & Creativity
Celebrating Beverley’s history of makers, guilds and artistry with major commissions, festivals and intergenerational projects.
• Sanctuary & Welcome
Reflecting Beverley’s origins as a place of refuge and healing—bringing people together across generations and communities.
• Landscape & Rural Life
Using the Westwood, the Beck and Beverley’s rural hinterland as inspirational settings for outdoor arts, performance and community storytelling.
Young People at the Heart of the Programme
A major strength of Beverley’s bid is its bold commitment to young people:
A new Youth Creativity Panel, giving young residents the power to shape decisions.
Plans for a Young People’s Cultural Festival, beginning as early as summer 2026.
Paid internships, creative apprenticeships and mentoring.
Cultural activity embedded in neighbourhoods where opportunities have historically been limited.
This intergenerational approach has been widely praised by cultural partners and is expected to be a key factor in the strength of Beverley’s bid.
A Collective Effort
The bid has been developed in partnership with:
Beverley Cultural Network
East Riding of Yorkshire Council (Accountable Body)
Festivals, venues, artists, youth groups, businesses and community organisations
Beverley’s MP and civic leaders
The partnership model—unique in its deeply integrated local leadership—has been highlighted as one of Beverley’s strongest assets.
A Confident, Competitive Bid
The submission sets out an ambitious, high-quality cultural vision backed by professional delivery, strong governance and clear legacy plans. If shortlisted, Beverley will receive a £60,000 development grant and begin rolling out early cultural activity later this year.
“This is a powerful, people-driven bid,” said Mayor Alison.
“Beverley’s cultural story—past, present and future—deserves to be shared with the whole country. We’ve shown what makes our town special, and why Beverley is ready to shine as UK Town of Culture 2028.”
Shortlisting results are expected later this spring.
