16/03/2026
Back the Bid ~ Blackburn set to bid for UK Town of Culture 2028
Creative and community organisations across Blackburn are coming together to develop a bid to be crowned UK Town of Culture in 2028. Organisations leading the town’s cultural renaissance, including our friends and collaborators Super Slow Way, British Textile Biennial, National Festival of Making and Blackburn Museum are supporting the Expression of Interest stage alongside a wide range of local partners, including Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.
We at Prism Contemporary couldn’t host many of the exhibitions we’ve held over the years (many of which you can see in this post) without help and collaboration with the council and many other great arts and culture organisation in Blackburn. This is an amazing opportunity for the town and you can have your say!
They want to hear from as many people as possible to help shape the story, bring ideas to life and drive this ambitious bid forward. Whether you represent heritage, culture, education or a community organisation, your voice can help celebrate Blackburn’s creativity, heritage and community in 2028.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Share your ideas through the Blackburn Town of Culture Online Portal - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOVDbiw_1awN1hHIZXoCEdSLUkL83sVf3uLGZYCt-F4zDfGg/viewform?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAQlIhhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadgz4oBjlmJshuDwbLqAQAHo-EKo-Hp6F5peCr3zymsAuKOaLDs9wpLhGEzDQ_aem_P4Gnn_jdawGpfCUzGzmxXw 🔗
Or come and chat in person at Blackburn Library
🗓️ Tuesday 24 March 2026, 1–3 pm
The winner of UK Town of Culture 2028 will receive £3 million, while the two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver cultural programmes in their towns.
Help tell Blackburn’s story of culture and creativity on the national stage.
