30
Mar
Ripon enters UK Town of Culture contest
Ripon has launched its bid for UK Town of Culture 2028.
Ripon is eligible to enter the competition due its small size, even though it is a city.
Its 17,000 population qualifies for the small town category.
Places have until tomorrow (March 31) to submit expressions of interest. Harrogate and Knaresborough have already revealed they plan to enter the competition, which the government set up to allow towns to enjoy the same spotlight afforded to those selected in the city of culture scheme.
The winner will receive £3 million and two finalists will get £250,000.
Ripon’s bid, led by Uredale Community Partnership, adopts the theme ‘small city, big landscape’ as well as the idea of pilgrimage.
The audience at the Ripon Theatre Festival 2026 launch event on Friday (March 27) were the first to hear that Ripon is formally bidding for the award.
The launch event for the 2026 Ripon Theatre Festival. Pic: Ben Coulson
Pilgrimage has deep roots in Ripon. The seventh century crypt of St Wilfrid at Ripon Cathedral drew early visitors, a tradition that continues today with the annual Boxing Day pilgrimage to Fountains Abbey. St Wilfrid’s Procession, held each summer, celebrates the city’s founder.
Charlie Studdy, a member of the culture and green space working group at Uredale Community Partnership and a volunteer for Ripon Theatre Festival helped bring partners together across the city.
Mr Studdy said:
Ripon has been a place of pilgrimage since 672 AD. In 2028, we want it to be one again – this time for culture. Our vision is to build on Ripon’s unique, ancient foundations to create a sustainable, culture-led future, using the all-encompassing idea of pilgrimage.
Ripon’s bid connects the city centre with the dale communities along the River Ure, from Masham through to Bishop Monkton and Langthorpe.
The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Dobson, chair of Uredale Community Partnership, said:
“Ripon has always been at the heart of a wider rural area and has an impact far beyond the city boundaries. It is wonderful that the Uredale Community Partnership has been the catalyst for this bid and has been able to bring together so many committed partners across the area.”
Partners involved in the bid include Ripon Together, Ripon BID, Ripon Theatre Festival, Ripon Cathedral, Ripon YMCA, Ripon Disability Forum, Ripon Civic Society and Ripon Arts Hub, alongside community groups spanning the Ure valley from Masham to the villages of Bishop Monkton and Langthorpe.
Lilla Bathurst, manager of Ripon Business Improvement District, said:
“Ripon captures hearts with its heritage, community spirit, and countryside, but it is often overshadowed by larger neighbours such as Harrogate and York. This is a major opportunity to invest in a sustainable, culture-led future and raise Ripon’s profile nationally.”
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