Six towns in our region are bidding to become 2028 UK Town of Culture. Here are the details

Six towns in our region are in the running to become Britain’s first town of culture after the deadline for initial bids closed.

‘Expressions of interest’ have been submitted on behalf of Bilston, Brierley Hill, Dudley, Smethwick, Stafford and Stourbridge in the first round of the bidding process to find the Town of Culture 2028.

The competition was announced by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy late last year, initially to celebrate ‘small and medium-sized towns’ across the UK, although the criteria was later expanded to allow larger town to also take part.

The winning town will host a year-long cultural programme in 2028 and receive a £3 million prize.

Initial expressions of interest had to be submitted by March 31, and a shortlist of towns will be announced in sometime during the spring.

Each shortlisted town will receive £60,000 to develop a more comprehensive bid, and the final winner will be announced in early 2027.

The six towns in the Black Country and mid-Staffordshire to lodge applications are:

Bilston

The town, which was built on its steel-making and coalmining industry, is famed for its enamelware and rich industrial heritage.

It is also the birthplace of glam-rock band Slade, which met at the town’s drill hall, and home to the famous Trumpet jazz bar.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, ward councillor and leader of Wolverhampton Council, said the town’s identity had been shaped by creativity, the arts, heritage and community spirit.

Councillor Chris Burden, cabinet member for city development, added: “The town’s heritage gives its people an enduring strength that sees them celebrate their past, while their resourcefulness, warmth and determination enable them to embrace the future, making Bilston an excellent candidate to maximise the benefits of being the first UK Town of Culture.”

He said the town already had a strong cultural identity thanks to venues and organisations such as Bilston Craft Gallery, Bilston Town Hall, The Robin and Gazebo Theatre. The new multi-million-pound outdoor market, due to be completed in June, would also provide a dedicated space for events, bringing the community and visitors together.

Smethwick

Manufacturing heritage is also at the heart of Sandwell Council’s bid for Smethwick to become Town of Culture.

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, leader of Sandwell Council, described the town as a being an economic powerhouse during the time of the Industrial Revolution.

"If it can be made, it’s been made in Smethwick," she said.

It is home to Galton Bridge, the highest canal bridge in the world, and also the former Chance Glassworks, once one of the the world’s leading manufacturers of glass.

Its Ruskin Pottery works was also known around the world for its colourful designs which formed part of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Councillor Carmichael added: “Smethwick is a uniquely diverse town within Sandwell that prides itself on its hyper-local creative vibrancy and its community driven spirit.

"With a high density of creatives from artists, musicians, designers working and living in areas like Bearwood, Smethwick is a catalyst for creative and cultural industries innovating for the next generation."

Stafford

With an 11th century castle providing an ideal backdrop for outdoor performances and cultural events, and 16th century Ancient High House being the largest timber-framed house in England, Stafford already brings plenty of cultural capital with its bid.

But Richard Stone, the man who is leading the campaign, says the real focus will be on how Stafford would use Town of Culture status to benefit the area.

“It is not just about the culture we have got, but about looking to the future, about how we would use Town of Culture to get to where we would like to be,” he said.

He said a group of more than 40 cultural organisations were behind the application, which would include a major festival called Stafford Town of Love.

“This would be broken down into different cultural streams, for example ‘Stafford Loves Theatre’, ‘Stafford Loves Arts and Crafts’, or for the younger audiences, ‘Stafford Loves Gaming’,” said Mr Stone.

He said events such as Stafford Pride had shown how much affection people felt towards the town, and the potential it had in holding major cultural events.

Dudley

Known as the Capital of the Black Country, Dudley is home to Dudley Zoo and Castle, the Black Country Living Museum, and Dudley Canal and Caverns, as well as the 12th century St James’s Priory.

Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve is world-famous geologically for its well-preserved Silurian coral-reef fossils, including the legendary Dudley Bug trilobite, and Dudley Canal and Cavern Trust has plans to reopen the Seven Sisters limestone caves to the public for the first time since 1967.

Bumble Hole nature reserve in Netherton is also home to a popular annual boating festival.

A bid would likely also include reference to the town’s heritage as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution: Dud Dudley became the first person in the world to be granted a patent to smelt iron with charcoal in 1622, and his great-great grandnephew Abraham Darby, also born in Dudley, became the first ironmaster to make the process commercially viable. Thomas Newcomen is also credited with building the first commercially viable steam engine in the area, although it is not year clear which sites will fall within the boundaries of the bid area.

Famous sons and daughters of Dudley include Frankenstein film director James Whale, comedians Billy Dainty, Sir Lenny Henry and Norman Pace, broadcaster Sue Lawley, and footballers Duncan Edwards and Sam Allardyce.

Stourbridge

Stourbridge has been at the heart of Britain’s glassmaking industry since the early 1600s, following the immigration of French coal miners in the Huguenot diaspora.

The Stourbridge Lion, the first locomotive to run on rails in the US was build at Foster & Rastrick Works in Wollaston.

Dudley Council, which has submitted three separate bids, said the town’s independent arts community would also play an important role in the town’s bid, and Stourbridge is also home to the Lace Guild, Britain’s largest museum of lace-making.

Stourbridge was also at the heart of the 1990s indie music scene thanks to groups such as Pop Will Eat Itself and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, while King Edward VI Grammar School - now King Edward VI College - educated luminaries such as Samuel Johnson, actor David Garrick, Robert Plant and computer pioneer Sir Maurice Wilkes. Film star Sir Cedric Hardwicke also grew up in Lye.

Brierley Hill

In its heyday, Brierley Hill was one of the biggest producers of iron and steel in the world, with thousands employed at the Earl of Dudley’s Round Oak Ironworks. Today the site is occupied by the Waterfront leisure park, which would be well-placed to host some activities.

Brierley Hill, like Stourbridge and Dudley, has a longstanding history as a glassmaking centre, and the council has indicated that the town’s emerging community‑driven creative scene will form a major part of the application.