Twelve North East towns have submitted official bids to become the UK’s first ever Town of Culture in 2028. The competition includes a small, medium, and large town categories, from which the Government will select an overall UK Town of Culture winner to be awarded £3 million to deliver a 12-month cultural programme.
The two other finalists will each receive £250,000. The North East towns involved have built everything from the birth of the railways, to stunning murals, to an ancient traditional football match into their bids.
More than 80 Town of Culture bids have been submitted across the UK. Here are the 12 towns in the North East which are bidding to bring the title home.
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