Harrogate throws its hat into the ring to be UK Town of Culture

Harrogate is calling on local businesses, residents and community groups to help shape its bid to become the UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028.

The North Yorkshire spa town has joined the growing list of places across the UK planning to compete for this inaugural title.  

Fire & Light Experience in Harrogate (credit Richard Maude)

A steering group has been set up tasked with coordinating Harrogate’s bid with a view to submitting an expression of interest by the end of March.

To support the development of the bid, two free-to-attend workshops are being held at The Crown Hotel in the town centre on Wednesday, March 4.

These workshops will explore Harrogate’s cultural strengths, ambitions and opportunities, and people who attend will have the opportunity to share their thoughts and help shape its Town of Culture bid.

Chris Aldred, Town Mayor of Harrogate, said the town’s council was fully behind the bid and is funding this expression of interest.

“Harrogate has a rich cultural history, and we see this as an opportunity not only to celebrate this history but as a way of looking forward and showing the rest of the country what a diverse and welcoming town Harrogate is today,” he said.

“We want this to be a community-led bid which is why we are holding these workshops so that as many people as possible in the town can have their say.

“It’s all about building on the past and looking to the future and getting as many people involved as possible and hopefully making 2028 a year to remember for Harrogate.”

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said: “Harrogate attracts visitors from all over the world who come here to enjoy world class festivals, concerts and events, which shows that for a town our size we’re punching well above our weight culturally.

“What makes this bid really exciting, is it’s an opportunity to build creative partnerships and for the local community to play a part in shaping Harrogate’s cultural life.”

Harrogate Carnival in 2022 (credit Charlotte Graham)

Craig Ratcliffe, director of music at St John Fisher Catholic High School and musical director of the popular Harrogate Band, is also among those backing the bid.

He said: “Harrogate is a cultural hub for so many different things that go on already and it would be great to widen this even further.

“We’re so fortunate in terms of the venues we have – from smaller theatres to the 900-seat Royal Hall which is one of the greatest venues in the country in my opinion – but there are many people in Harrogate who feel these places aren’t their kind of thing.

“So if we can widen participation in these venues and harness great outdoor spaces like the Stray, then we could do some amazing things, because the town’s got so much to offer culturally.”

Harrogate Carnival parade in 2022 (credit Charlotte Graham)

Richard McTague, owner of RedHouse Gallery, supports the bid, too. He said: “We’re in the contemporary art world and we’ve noticed that quite a few artists in recent years have chosen to move to the town and put down roots here, which is really encouraging.

“We’ve also seen lots of independent bars, restaurants and artist studios opening which has created a real buzz here. There are pockets of exciting things happening and if this bid could harness that energy and bring even more creatives together, I think that would be a real bonus for Harrogate.”

The two workshops take place at The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, Wednesday, 4 March at 2pm – 4pm & 5.30pm – 7.30pm. To book go to https://bit.ly/3P2eIIQ

Anyone unable to attend in person, can still contribute via a short online questionnaire here: https://bit.ly/3P1vpUP