Milton Keynes has been longlisted for UK City of Culture 2029, securing £60,000 to develop its bid and moving a step closer to a £10 million funding award.
The city is one of nine locations selected by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, alongside Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.
The next stage of the competition will see each place submit a detailed proposal setting out how culture-led investment could support economic growth, increase visitor numbers and create jobs. The winning location will be announced later this year.
The government said the programme is designed to drive regeneration and unlock additional public and private sector investment in host locations.
Lisa Nandy said the competition recognises the role of communities across the UK in shaping the country’s cultural and economic identity, while giving places the opportunity to attract new opportunities and national attention.
Cabinet Member for Planning and Placemaking at Milton Keynes City Council, Councillor Shanika Mahendran said: “Being longlisted for UK City of Culture 2029 is an exciting moment for Milton Keynes. It recognises the potential of our bold design heritage, our creative communities and our forward-looking identity, and we thank the expert judging panel and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for seeing that potential. We look forward to working closely with partners from across the city as we develop the full application, and to showing even more of what makes Milton Keynes such an inventive, welcoming and culturally ambitious place.”
The longlist was recommended by an independent advisory panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond.
Previous UK City of Culture programmes have delivered increased footfall, inward investment and wider regeneration benefits for host cities. Milton Keynes will now compete to demonstrate how its bid could translate cultural activity into measurable economic impact.
Image: “With Your Dreams” artwork at Station Square highlights Milton Keynes’ creative identity as the city bids for UK City of Culture 2029, aiming to drive investment, jobs and visitor growth.
