Council launches bid for Town of Culture 2028

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council is launching a joint bid for Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield to each be a UK Town of Culture 2028, following the announcement of a national competition to showcase the heritage, culture and creativity of UK towns across the UK.

The joint bid, in the Large Town category and under the vision “Distinct by Design”, would bring together Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield through a shared cultural programme. The council’s intention is to celebrate how the two differently planned towns have developed and continue to grow together through culture, creativity, and community engagement.  

As part of the preparations to submit the joint bid, Welwyn Hatfield residents are warmly invited to take part in a survey on which sporting, artistic and other cultural activities they take part in and what they would like to see more of. The results of the survey will help shape the council’s expression of interest submission for the competition.

Welwyn Garden City is the world’s second garden city and is unique for being both a garden city and a new town. It is a hub of diverse attractions, with an arts facility in Campus West that showcases a family-friendly mix of film, theatre and fun alongside beautiful parkland and sporting endeavours at Stanborough Lakes, not to mention the rich archaeological finds at Welwyn Roman Baths. 

There is also the rich cultural heritage of Hatfield – from the grandeur of Hatfield House, to the historically pivotal de Havilland Aircraft Company, producer of the famous Mosquito plane during World War II; the innovation of the University of Hertfordshire, and a community spirit which powers a varied programme of town centre events and vibrant markets across the year, as well as the historic Mill Green Watermill and Museum. The University of London’s Royal Veterinary College also has a campus in the borough and is ranked number one globally for veterinary science.

The council will be working in collaboration with local partners including the Welwyn Garden City Bid Team to ensure we celebrate everything our towns have to offer.

Three Large Town finalists will be chosen by an expert panel, with the winner awarded a £3m prize and two runners-up receiving £250,000 each. Shortlisted towns will also receive a £60,000 grant from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to support the development of their full bids.

The competition has been launched as part of the Government’s efforts to "restore pride in communities" with applicants encouraged to showcase their "unique stories".
The winner will be awarded funding for 2028 and then will start a year-long programme of cultural celebrations.

Cllr Rose Grewall, Leader of the Council, said:
“The UK Town of Culture competition is an exciting opportunity for us to shine a light on the heritage and cultural significance of our two towns, what makes them both unique, and what they share in terms of artistic offerings, diverse communities, beautiful outdoor spaces and vibrant town centres. We are lucky to have such close-knit, supportive communities and a range of local businesses in our borough. I would urge residents to complete the survey so that we can submit a comprehensive and engaging expression of interest to the judging panel, that reflects everything we have to offer in our wonderful borough.”

Cllr Jane Quinton, Executive Member for Community and Leisure, said:
“The UK Town of Culture competition is an incredible opportunity for Welwyn Hatfield. We have so much to offer in terms of leisure, culture and history, and I’m sure we can create a powerful, well-founded narrative for our towns. I will be excited to see our bid take shape with input from our proudly diverse communities. The accompanying survey will also help us enhance and build on our leisure scene, ensuring Welwyn Hatfield continues to thrive for residents and visitors alike.”

To complete the survey, please go to welhat.gov.uk/culture. The deadline for completion is Wednesday 25 March.