uk town of culture 2028 bid
Hero image: Ripon Cathedral on an autumn morning. Photo credit: Gary Lawson
Small City, Big Landscape: Ripon’s bid for UK Town of Culture 2028
Ripon is bidding to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
This is a bold bid from one of England’s smallest cities, but also one with an extraordinary story to tell. From the nightly sounding of the Hornblower to the deep heritage of Ripon Cathedral, from the nationally significant stories held within Ripon Museums to the festivals, performances and community activity that animate the city and its surrounding villages, Ripon’s cultural life is rooted in history but alive with contemporary creativity.
Our bid is built around one big idea: Small City, Big Landscape.
It is a vision that reaches beyond the city centre, celebrating not just Ripon itself but the wider rural area it serves and connects with, from Masham to Langthorpe and the villages in between.
Ripon has a remarkable story to tell, but this bid is not only about celebrating our heritage. It is about backing our people, our creativity and our confidence in the future. UK Town of Culture 2028 is a real opportunity to bring communities together and shine a light on all that makes Ripon and the wider Uredale area special.
As a councillor for Ripon Minster and Moorside, I know how important it is that investment in culture reaches all parts of the city. This bid is not just about profile or visitors, it is about pride, inclusion and making sure more local people can take part in what Ripon has to offer.
A bid inspired by pilgrimage
The theme of the bid is pilgrimage – not simply in a religious sense, but as a journey of discovery, connection, growth and healing.
Ripon has long been a place of arrival, reflection and gathering. In 2028, we want to reimagine that story for today through a cultural programme that connects people and place in new ways.
That could mean events and experiences in the city centre, creative activity in villages and community spaces, work shaped by young people, outdoor culture in the landscape, and projects that bring together heritage, arts, wellbeing and belonging.
St Wilfrid’s Procession is one of Ripon’s most enduring traditions and speaks strongly to the city’s story of sanctuary, welcome and belonging. Alongside the Hornblower and Ripon’s wider heritage, it reflects a living history that still shapes Ripon today. A successful bid could make a real difference by helping more people connect with that story, take pride in their city, and be part of shaping what comes next.
Why Ripon, why now?
Ripon has a remarkable cultural identity, but it is often overlooked.
This bid is a chance to tell Ripon’s story nationally, with confidence and ambition. It is also a chance to use culture as a way to strengthen connections across the city and its rural hinterland, support local pride, widen participation and help shape the future of the area.
This is about more than a title. It is about making sure culture plays a central part in Ripon’s next chapter.
Rooted in partnership
The bid has been developed through Ripon Together, North Yorkshire Council and the Uredale Community Partnership, bringing together local organisations, community voices, cultural partners and stakeholders from across the area.
It reflects a shared belief that culture can help strengthen place, support wellbeing, and create a more connected future for Ripon and Uredale.
Partners
We are grateful for the support from Ripon Theatre Festival, Ripon Arts Hub, Ripon BID, Ripon Disability Forum, Ripon Cathedral, Ripon Civic Society, Ripon Museums Trust, National Trust Fountains Abbey, for their support in getting the bid over the line.
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CONTACT
Registered address:
Ripon Community House, 75 Allhallowgate, Ripon HG4 1LE
Ripon Together is a Community Interest Company • Registered in England, Company number: 10187305