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31
Mar
Giant tea party on Stray forms part of Harrogate’s town of culture bid
A Great Harrogate Tea Party on the Stray forms part of the town's bid to be named UK Town of Culture.
Harrogate Town Council approved the submission of its expression of interest at an extraordinary meeting last night.
The expression of interest outlines a year-long programme based on three connected themes: water, wellbeing and welcome.
The cost of delivering the programme is expected to be in the region of £5 million to £6 million.
The entry says "this reflects the ambition to deliver a high-quality, six month-long programme alongside investment in participation, skills and legacy activity".
It would be funded partly by the £3 million government prize while additional funding would be sought through grants from public and private bodies.
Outlining the key themes, the expression of interest says:
Water - exploring Harrogate’s spa heritage, celebrating its natural environment and reinterpreting the role water has shaped the town.
Wellbeing - reflecting its long association with health through creativity, nature, movement and shared cultural experiences.
Welcome - building on Harrogate’s tradition of hospitality to create a Town of Culture that is inclusive, co-created and accessible, ensuring more people see themselves in the town’s cultural life.
These themes will be brought to life through large-scale outdoor events, participatory experiences and bold artistic commissions. Green spaces - including Valley Gardens, Crescent Gardens and the 100 acre Stray, which celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2028 - will provide distinctive settings alongside venues and community spaces.
The tea party, supported by Bettys & Taylors and Yorkshire Tea, would provide a large civic celebration and A Welcome the World Festival would be created ‘to build on recent carnival activity to celebrate the cultures shaping Harrogate today’.
Media launch
Harrogate's bid will be launched at a media gathering on the Stray at 11am today (March 31).
Tourism consultant Gemma Rio, former head of tourism for North Yorkshire Council and interim chief executive of Harrogate Business Improvement District, drew up the expression of interest on behalf of the town council.
It followed two public engagement sessions.
Today is the deadline for submitting expressions of interest. Ripon and Knaresborough are also entering.
The government hopes the scheme will build on the UK City of Culture initiative, which was introduced in 2009 and seen winning cities Hull, Coventry and Bradford each enjoy a year in the cultural spotlight.
There are categories for large, medium and small towns. Harrogate is the only town in North Yorkshire eligible for the large town category.
The overall winner will receive £3 million and two runners-up will receive investment worth £250,000 each.
Each shortlisted town will receive £60,000 to work up full bids. A panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond will then select three finalists.
Harrogate’s bid says the town is at ‘a moment of change’. The expression of interest says:
While known for its heritage, it has an opportunity to redefine itself as a contemporary cultural town with national relevance, driving a youth-inspired, diverse and culturally inclusive identity for the future.
Harrogate is internationally recognised as a spa town with a strong visitor economy and a vibrant cultural offer. However, behind this success lie inequalities and participation gaps that risk limiting who benefits from the town’s cultural and economic offer. Addressing these challenges now is critical to ensuring Harrogate remains a vibrant and inclusive place to live and work.
The Instagram page @harrogateculture has been set-up to support the bid.
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