Last week’s Sandown Kinship Gathering has been hailed ‘an outstanding success’ by the Town of Culture bid team, after all tickets for the free event were snapped up days in advance.
One of 15 finalists left in the race to be UK Town of Culture 2028, Sandown must submit its final bid to win the competition by 30th November 2026.
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The public gathering, at Graft Studios in the Old Town Hall, was a chance for residents to enjoy an evening of entertainment and have their say about the bid team’s plans for 2028.
An evening of poetry, pictures and radio
The event included an off-the-wall take on the town by the cast of Radio Free Sandown, poetry readings, the opening of two photographic exhibitions featuring work by Simon Avery and Zoe Barker and the launch of Sandown Trove: Portrait of a Town 2026, a new publication by Tracy Mikich and cultural collaborators, supported by Arts Council England and Creative Island.
Half a million views online
The bid campaign has also announced big success on social media, with posts by Sandown Tide Turners garnering half a million views over the eight weeks up to 2nd November 2026 alone.
“We want the whole town to be part of the journey”
Paul Coueslant of the Town of Culture bid team says,
“With just three weeks left to finalise the bid, our aim has been to build momentum and support for Sandown and we want the whole town to be part of the journey.
“The event at Graft Studios was an outstanding success, with so many entertained and enthusiastically involved in the bid process.
“Soon, the outcome for Sandown will be in the hands of the Town of Culture judging panel and, whatever happens, we’re bowled over that people have come together around this amazing opportunity for the town.”
News shared by Paul on behalf of Sandown Tide Turners. Ed
