Why Dudley should be UK's first Town of Culture - the town's MP writes for the Express & Star

Dudley is special to me because it is a place with an extraordinary sense of identity and pride. 

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It is a town that knows where it comes from, values hard work and community. That spirit is something you feel the moment you spend time here — in our high streets,our community centres, our schools and our local events.

Dudley’s story is central to the story of Britain. From the furnaces and foundries that helped power the Industrial Revolution, to the skills, craftsmanship and innovation that emerged from them, this town helped shape the modern world. That legacy lives on today not only at the Black Country Living Museum, which brings history vividly to life for new generations, but also at Ruiton Mill. As a historic visitor attraction, Ruiton Mill offers people the chance to experience first-hand the ingenuity that put Dudley at the heart of global industrial change, while also contributing to local tourism, education and the borough’s growing cultural offer.

I’ve been especially passionate about proposals to better connect Wren’s Nest National Nature Reserve with the Dudley Canal & Caverns, helping to unlock the full potential of this unique landscape. By improving access and linking these world-class assets, the plans would boost sustainable tourism, create learning and employment opportunities for local people, and support wider regeneration across the borough. Central to this vision is the campaign to reopen the spectacular Seven Sisters limestone caverns beneath Wren’s Nest — a world-famous geological treasure that has been closed to visitors since the 1960s. I have raised this ambition in Parliament, urging ministers to back plans that could attract up to 500,000 additional visitors to Dudley each year and transform how this extraordinary site is experienced.

But Dudley is not just about its past. It is also a place of culture, creativity and ambition.The skyline of Dudley Castle and Dudley Zoo is instantly recognisable, and our town centre regeneration, cultural venues and community festivals show a borough looking confidently to the future. Dudley has a growing arts scene, strong grassroots organisations and a diversity of voices that reflect modern Britain.

Most importantly, Dudley’s greatest strength is its people. This is a community that looks out for one another, that volunteers, organises, creates and gets involved. Whether it’s local artists, youth groups, faith organisations or long-standing community campaigns, there is a deep well of civic pride and participation here.

That is why Dudley should bid for this funding and recognition. A Town of Culture designation would be a recognition of what already exists and a catalyst to go further. It would give local talent a national platform, attract visitors and investment, and inspire young people growing up here to see culture as something they can shape, not just consume.

The UK Town of Culture award would bring £3.5 million of dedicated funding to deliver a major cultural programme, and for Dudley this investment could be transformational. By integrating culture into wider regeneration plans — from heritage and tourism to skills,youth opportunities and high street revival — Dudley could ensure this investment delivers lasting benefits, strengthens local pride, and helps create good jobs and opportunities for residents long after the title year ends.

Dudley has always contributed far more than it has asked for. This bid is our chance to tell our story in our own voice — proud of our history, confident in our future, and rooted in the people who make this town what it is. 

Sonia Kumar MP for Dudley