Ipswich Completes First Step of UK City of Culture Bid

Ipswich has today completed the first stage of its bid to become the UK City of Culture 2029, formally submitting its Expression of Interest to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The submission is the first milestone in the competitive national process and follows overwhelming public support in recent weeks, with residents, organisations, businesses and cultural groups from across Ipswich backing the bid.

Bryony Hope, Head of Communications and Development at Dance East, who led the drafting and submission of the Expression of Interest, said:

“Our submission sets out a confident vision for Ipswich - one that recognises the role that culture can play in supporting inclusive growth and that is driven by young people imagining our town’s future.

“It reflects Ipswich’s character as a place that has continually adapted and reinvented itself, and builds on the strengths and creativity that already exist across our communities, education sector and cultural organisations.

“It heralds our strong heritage, recognises current challenges and champions our future ambitions. Culture is already driving change here by transforming spaces, creating jobs, nurturing skills and connecting people locally and internationally.

“Our outline programme will build on this, combining grassroots creativity with activity of national significance, working across neighbourhoods and sectors to ensure culture is accessible and relevant to everyday life and attracting people to visit.

“Above all, this vision represents a shared ambition across the town to tell our story more confidently and to use culture as a catalyst for long-term change. The level of support we’ve seen over the last month has been extraordinary. It has shown the unity and belief that exists and we will be building on those strong foundations over the coming months.”

In this first part of the process, DCMS requires large towns, cities and places to articulate their vision, outline their proposed approach and programme, and demonstrate their readiness to deliver. Designed as a light-touch first step, it asks bidders to outline their ambition and partnership support rather than detailed delivery or financial plans.

Submissions are then assessed against national criteria centred on how culture can transform places - supporting growth and opportunity, enriching lives and strengthening community pride. DCMS expects to announce a longlist of places progressing to the next stage in late March 2026 and those bidders will then be invited to develop full applications over several months.

Local people are being asked to go to www.Ipswich2029.com and sign up to show their support. Organisations and businesses that have already shown their support by sponsoring the bid are ITFC, Suffolk New College, Birketts and Churchmanor Estates. More are expected to join in the coming months.

Further information and FAQs about the process can be found here: https://www.danceeast.co.uk/city-ofculture-2029