Huntingdon bids to become the first Town of Culture

Huntingdon has put in a bid to become the first UK Town of Culture.

Huntingdon Business Improvement District (BID) and Huntingdon Town Council said they were working together to put in an application for a chance to win the title.

The winner of the contest for 2028 will be awarded £3m and have the chance to put on cultural events during the year.

Paul Sweeney, town centre manager at BID Huntingdon, said the main aim was to inspire people and to "highlight the amazing things that go on" in the town.

It is the second town in the district to announce a bid. The Neotists community interest company has put in an entry for St Neots.

The contest will run alongside the existing UK City of Culture competition.

Sweeney said Huntingdon had a strong case as the town had a rich music, art and heritage mix.

"It is about leaning into our history," he said.

"We were the meeting point between London and York, and Huntingdon is the place to meet people."

He said if the town won, the money would be used to help culture and community groups.

Sarah Conboy, the Liberal Democrat leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, said it was fantastic that both towns were bidding.

She said: "They are both supportive of each other. [They] clearly both want to win, but how fantastic to have two wanting to celebrate everything that makes them so special."

Stuart Orme, of Huntingdon's Cromwell Museum, said the town had been "a significant place through history", especially in the 17th Century.

"It has got loads of famous people associated with it, the most famous of whom is Oliver Cromwell," he said.

Orme added that trying to win the title was "about helping revitalise the town and putting it on the map and making people aware of it".

Shortlisted entries will be handed £60,000 to help with their efforts. Three finalists will then be chosen by a panel of judges, and the two runners-up will receive prizes of £250,000.

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