Richmond’s unsuccessful UK Town of Culture bid has created a lasting legacy for the town, says the woman who led the campaign.
Richmond was among 398 towns from across the UK to enter the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 competition but was not selected as one of the 15 finalists announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
While admitting the outcome was disappointing, Marcia McLuckie, a director of Richmond Yorkshire Community Interest Company, which led the bid, said the months of work had brought together organisations and individuals in a way that would continue to benefit the town.
“It’s obviously disappointing, but we always knew it was going to be a big challenge, and it was bigger than we originally thought,” she said.
“We thought a couple of hundred towns had entered, but there were actually nearer 400, so we were up against it.”
Rather than seeing the unsuccessful bid as the end of the process, Mrs McLuckie believes it has laid the foundations for future cultural projects and funding opportunities.
“There’s been a value in all the different organisations working together the way we have,” she said.
“We brought together a very talented steering group, and we contacted so many people in the area from the arts world, theatre and music.
“We spoke to a lot of local people who had lots of ideas.
“Our view is that we should continue to meet and develop those cultural ideas so that we can take them forward for the benefit of Richmond, so I think it has to be worthwhile.”
She said one of the biggest benefits of the bid was identifying both the town’s strengths and the challenges it faces.
“There is definitely a legacy from the bid, although how big the legacy will be we don’t yet know,” she said.
“One of the advantages is that we’re now in a very strong position if any other funding is available. We’ve done a lot of the groundwork and looked at what is missing from Richmond, which I have to say is not a lot as Richmond has so many things to offer.”
Mrs McLuckie said the process had also highlighted concerns about the town’s ageing population and the lack of opportunities for younger people.
“One of the things that was very much highlighted is the lack of meaningful employment for young people and the problem we have of an ageing population and the youthful population leaving the area,” she said.
“We want to continue to be a multi-generational town. We don’t just want to become a town for the old. We need to all work together because we need each other.”
Although Richmond will not progress in the UK Town of Culture competition, Mrs McLuckie said the partnerships, ideas and momentum created during the bid would continue to shape the town’s cultural future.
In a letter sent to applicants last week, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed that Richmond’s bid had not been selected for the final shortlist.
The competition attracted 398 applications, with an independent expert panel choosing just 15 towns to progress to the next stage.
Writing to applicants, UK Town of Culture chair Sir Phil Redmond said: “Unfortunately, on this occasion, your application has not been selected for the shortlist.”
He acknowledged the disappointment many communities would feel but encouraged unsuccessful bidders to continue building on the work undertaken as part of their applications.
He said: “Although you may be disappointed that your application has not been selected, we hope you will regard your participation as a part of a continuing journey rather than a single outcome. The work you and your communities have undertaken has value, and we encourage you to continue building on that work.”
