Lerwick Shortlisted for UK Town of Culture 2028

We’re delighted to share some exciting news: Lerwick has been selected as one of just 15 places shortlisted for the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition.

The competition attracted an extraordinary level of interest, with 398 Expressions of Interest submitted from across the UK. We are thrilled that Lerwick’s Expression of Interest, led by Shetland Arts, has been invited to progress to the next stage.

Earlier this year, Shetland Arts submitted an Expression of Interest on behalf of the Shetland Partnership for Lerwick and the wider Shetland community. The EOI is built around a vision that celebrates what makes this place unique: our rich heritage, strong traditions, vibrant contemporary culture and the extraordinary creativity found across our islands.

While the geographical focus of the submission is Lerwick, its ambition extends far beyond the town itself. Lerwick acts as a cultural gathering place for the wider island community, and the programme we have proposed would be rooted in its venues, harbour, streets and coastal landscapes while giving expression to the full breadth of creativity found across Shetland.

The proposed theme, Around the World’s Edge, explores Shetland’s position at the meeting point of island heritage, community, innovation and contemporary creativity. It aims to showcase the distinctive stories, traditions and cultural life that have shaped Shetland and continue to inspire it today.

“We are delighted that Lerwick has been shortlisted. The bid will celebrate our rich heritage and traditions while showcasing a vibrant contemporary culture and strong community spirit.

Being selected as one of just 15 places from almost 400 submissions is a fantastic achievement and a real vote of confidence in the place we live. We’re excited to move into the next stage of the process and look forward to sharing more details once the guidance for shortlisted bids is released.”

– Graeme Howell, Chief Executive of Shetland Arts

We are currently awaiting further guidance from the organisers on the next phase of the competition and will share updates as soon as more information becomes available.

For now, we’re taking a moment to celebrate this milestone and thank everyone who has supported the initiative so far. On to the next stage!

See the government’s press release on their website.

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