Newport has confirmed its intention to enter the UK Town of Culture competition, launched on Wednesday by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to celebrate the unique stories of towns across the country and their contribution to national cultural life.
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans (Newport Central) put the proposal to both Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council and the Newport Business Association, which were unanimously supported. The bid will now be taken forward through the Shaping Newport partnership as a community-led application.
Help fly the cultural flag for the whole Island
As the county town of the Isle of Wight, Newport is proud to step forward and help fly the cultural flag for the whole Island.
Councillor Jones-Evans said,
“This competition is about towns telling their own story, in their own voice.
“As the county town, Newport is well placed to help showcase the Island’s culture, creativity and communities on a national stage.”
The Town of Culture competition sits within the government’s wider Pride of Place agenda, recognising the power of culture to strengthen communities, boost confidence and create opportunity.
Newport’s bid will focus on participation, skills, volunteering and creative pathways – ensuring people don’t just attend events, but help shape and deliver them.
The Creative Heart of the Island
Newport is the Island’s cultural hub – a working town where creativity is part of everyday life. It is home to:
- Three theatres, events and multiple live performance spaces
- Carisbrooke Castle, one of the Island’s most significant heritage sites
- A Roman villa, linking the town to its ancient past
- Museums, the Minster, archives, historic collections and buildings
- A strong visual arts scene, with galleries, studios and makers
- Colleges and schools nurturing creative talent
- A vibrant grassroots music scene
Newport also hosts the world-renowned Isle of Wight Festival, one of the most iconic music festivals in the world, with a global reputation for excellence.
Live music is actively supported across the town, with venues such as Strings Bar and Venue showcasing local and national talent. Strings will soon host BBC Radio 6 Music as part of Independent Venue Week, putting Newport’s grassroots music scene firmly on the national map.
The town is also proud to host Platform One College of Music, a nationally recognised creative institution. Platform One is,
- The UK’s first sustainable fashion college
- A leading provider of music education
- Alma mater of two-time Grammy winners Wet Leg
This demonstrates how Newport nurtures talent from grassroots through to global stages – proving culture here is not just consumed, but created.
A town that tells a National story
Newport’s story reflects the story of many towns across the UK: heritage and innovation, challenge and reinvention, pride and community. From Roman settlement to medieval market town, maritime trade, industrial change and modern creative enterprise, Newport has continually evolved.
Sitting at the heart of the Island’s transport network, Newport is a natural gathering place, giving this bid genuine island-wide reach. It allows the town to design a cultural programme that is inclusive, accessible and relevant to people of all ages and backgrounds.
The ambition is to use culture as a tool for connection – bringing people together across generations, neighbourhoods and interests, and creating opportunities for residents to take part, learn new skills and build pride in their town.
Councillor Jones-Evans added,
“What makes Newport special is our scale and our spirit. We’re small enough to collaborate properly, but ambitious enough to deliver big ideas.
“Culture already happens here every day – this bid lets us amplify it and share it with the country.”
What winning could mean for Newport
The impact of national culture titles is well evidenced, with previous UK City of Culture winners such as Derry~Londonderry, Hull and Coventry seeing long-term benefits including investment, increased footfall, skills development, civic pride and stronger community cohesion.
Councillor Jones-Evans said,
“I visited Bradford in September and saw first-hand what this kind of designation can achieve. There was a real sense of pride, millions of pounds of investment in the city and a genuine feeling of communities coming together.
“It wasn’t just about events – it was about confidence, belonging and people feeling proud of where they live and what they can achieve together.
“That’s exactly what I’d love to see for Newport. This isn’t about a single year – it’s about long-term transformation, creating opportunities for young people, supporting our creative economy and strengthening our sense of place.”
Community call-out
The bid will be built with the community. Councillor Jones-Evans is inviting creatives, artists, musicians, event organisers, venues, schools, colleges, heritage groups, writers, storytellers, businesses and residents to get involved.
“If you have ideas, projects or simply want to be part of this journey, please get in touch. This has to reflect the real Newport – in all its diversity and creativity.”
Join the Town Conversation
The first opportunity to get together will take place at the Creative Island Newport Town Conversation
It takes place on Monday 19th January from 6pm at Lord Louis Library. The event is open to all.
This session will begin building partnerships and shaping the vision for the bid. She added,
“This is your town and your story – let’s build it together.”
News shared by Julie, in her own words. Ed
