Two adjacent communities have decided to enter the race for a prestigious cultural designation.
The UK Government’s 2028 UK Town of Culture initiative comes with a £3 million fund intended to support events promoting public engagement in arts and creative pursuits.
Blaenavon and Abergavenny town councils have both voted to submit proposals for their communities, which lie on opposite sides of the Blorenge mountain.
Sir Phil Redmond, creator of Brookside and Grange Hill, will chair an expert committee evaluating submissions based on how effectively towns present their narratives, unite residents and outline their proposed plans.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced that the most compelling applications will advance to a shortlist expected to be revealed later this spring. Towns selected for the shortlist will each be awarded £60,000 to assist with developing comprehensive submissions.
Three candidates representing small, medium and large settlements will be selected, with these finalists anticipated to be named in early 2027. The victorious community will be designated UK Town of Culture 2028 and receive the £3m award. The two remaining finalists will each obtain £250,000 to implement aspects of their proposals.
Should Blaenavon make the shortlist, the town council has committed to collaborating with local residents and partner organisations to craft a detailed submission and programme for later submission.
The council stated that regardless of the result, it would persist in working jointly on place-focused initiatives that recognise and support Blaenavon’s cultural heritage and community.
Councillor Dr Nathan Matthews explained that Blaenavon’s submission aims to leverage its World Heritage Status, which was granted acknowledging the landscape that birthed the iron and coal sectors and the settlement that grew alongside them.
The independent councillor noted that Blaenavon’s internationally significant cultural resources demonstrate the materials, expertise and innovations that contributed to shaping contemporary society. He said the expression of interest looks ahead, outlining strategies to build on this robust foundation to generate fresh possibilities for involvement, skill-building and local economic growth while boosting civic pride.
He added that the submission had been developed with contributions from Blaenavon residents and partner organisations, and that should the town reach the shortlist, the subsequent phase would maintain its community-focused and inclusive approach. He expressed pride in Blaenavon’s attributes and ambition to share its story more broadly, using culture to underpin the town’s future development and help it achieve its capabilities.
Abergavenny Town Council reported receiving enthusiastic feedback from three in-person consultation events and an online survey when seeking public opinion on pursuing the cultural designation.
A council representative stated that the authority thanked all individuals who submitted ideas and suggestions while contributing to the expression of interest.
She confirmed that should Abergavenny reach the shortlist, the town council would seek to establish an independent committee to prepare the comprehensive submission for consideration in the competition for Town of Culture 2028.