Emsworth is making a bid to become
the UK’s first Town of Culture showcasing its rich history.
Emsworth will link up with
neighbouring Southbourne, Thorney Island, and Westbourne to
fight for the title competing against dozens of towns hoping
for the winning prize of £3m to deliver a cultural programme
lasting about six months in 2028.
The competition is similar to City
of Culture, which began in 2013, but is aimed specifically
at small and medium-sized towns and each town will be judged
aBest Places to Live in Hampshire according to The Sunday
Times
WemsFest Artistic Director Mark
Ringwood, who is leading the Emsworth bid, said: "I'm sure
we'll face very strong competition but we feel that we have
several stories to tell which many newcomers to the area are
totally unaware of.
“Our application involves the
neighbouring communities of Southbourne, Thorney Island, and
Westbourne and each of them have their own individual
stories.
“Yes it's a case of 'if you're not
in it then you can't win it' but when you add up all the
ingredients there's absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be
strong contenders. Over the 800 years since the settlement
was first established there have been a number of notable
industries and associations which have made Emsworth and the
area what it is today.
“From mills providing flour from
wheat imported from Holland to a thriving Oyster industry
which collapsed overnight and is now being reconstituted to
combat pollution.
“Add the facts that our ropemakers
were once the envy of the world and the part Emsworth played
in the 1944 D-Day Invasion plus notable artistic residents
included actor Albert Finney, and author and playwright PG
Wodehouse, and these parts make significant contributions to
what Emsworth once was and what it is now.
“The very fact that a bid is being
made - in the category of 'populations under 20,000 people -
has brought a substantial number of cultural organisations
together under one roof, and that's an achievement in
itself."
The shortlist for the competition,
run by The Department of Culture, Media & Sport, will be
announced in late April with the winning town due to be
announced in 2027.
The News 25th March
