It joins several Bucks towns hoping to be the first to be given the title.
Aylesbury joins Chesham, Tring and Thame in submitting a bid for the title, with the Town Council announcing its bid this morning (2/07) on Facebook, alongside a link to its "digital postcard" (as seen below).
On the map (external link) of all towns who have submitted a bid, the digital postcard appeared alongside this description:
"WELCOME TO AYLESBURY!
GREETINGS FROM AYLESBURY! I’M SENDING YOU WARM WISHES FROM THIS CHARMING COUNTY TOWN, WHERE HISTORIC STREETS MEET PEACEFUL COUNTRYSIDE. MARKET SQUARE IS LIVELY, WITH FRIENDLY FACES AND LOCAL SHOPS, AND THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING RELAXING ABOUT THE SLOWER PACE OF LIFE HERE. IT’S A LOVELY SPOT TO PAUSE, REFLECT, AND APPRECIATE SIMPLE MOMENTS.
I HOPE YOU’RE DOING WELL. LOOKING FORWARD TO CATCHING UP SOON AND SHARING MORE STORIES FROM MY TIME HERE IN AYLESBURY."
The winner will be awarded £3 million to deliver a cultural programme in 2028 of around six months, with two other finalists set to receive £250,000. This is in addition to £60,000 development grants for those who are shortlisted to work up their full bids.
Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, announced the government's search for the UK's first town of culture in March this year, with the competition modelled on the City of Culture contest back in 2009. She said that since its launch, four "incredible" cities - Derry/Londonderry, Hull, Coventry and now Bradford - "have delivered a year of rich cultural activity rooted in their unique identities and drawing on local strengths and stories".
Nandy went on to explain that the Town of Culture contest aims to build on this success, by recognising that "great culture is not confined to our largest metropolitan centres" and that "for too long that talent and contribution has gone unrecognised".
"Everybody deserves the chance to share their pride in the place they call home and to have access to quality art, music, dance and drama wherever they live. That is why we are launching the UK Town of Culture".
You can find out more about the competition here (external link).
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