Ilfracombe makes the UK ‘Town of Culture’ Shortlist
Ilfracombe is in the news for an impressive honour. Beating out close to 400 other towns from across the country, Ilfracombe is shortlisted for the country’s first Town of Culture award. Our town is one of only 15 towns nation-wide selected to move on to the final stage of the competition which takes place early 2027. The group One Ilfracombe, working with the Ilfracombe Town Council, put together a clearly persuasive application. Key in developing this proposal was the work of the One Ilfracombe Culture Club, a vibrant network of “…artists, performers, venues, museums, councils and community organisations.” (see source) There have been national awards given for cities of culture in the past but now the award is being given to towns.
As a finalist in this competition, Ilfracombe received a £ 60,000 development grant to aid in putting together its finalist application. Ilfracombe is one of 6 small towns in the final phase; there also finalists in the categories of medium and larger towns. Notably, Ilfracombe is the only town in Southwest England chosen for this shortlist – beating out all the other Devon and Cornwall towns that applied.
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The stakes are high; not only is there the desired designation as a national ‘town of culture’ to be earned, but also a government grant of £ 3 million to create and deliver an intensive cultural programme in 2028. In addition, there are two £ 250,000 prizes possible! The goal is for recipients to use the award money to “…celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling, empower their communities and provide more accessible culture in their area.” (see source) Past recipients of ‘City of Culture’ awards have used the money to bolster community pride, as well as tourism and local incomes.
The purpose of this contest and award, according to the government, is to “…shine a light on local visions and voices from across the UK to help encourage increased local investment, create a lasting sense of pride, and open doors to the arts and culture for everyone”. (see source) Some of the selling points of the Ilfracombe bid included being home to Verity, the vibrancy of the local creative community, the town’s rich historical heritage, its picturesque natural setting, and the commitment to local arts and artisans exemplified by events such as the Ilfracombe Art Trail.
There will be a finalist chosen in each of the three categories, with one chosen as overall winner (and getting the £ 3 million grant). The other two finalists receive £ 250,000 each.
Here is a list of all 15 short listed towns.
- Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward.
- Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd and Port Talbot.
- Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham.
Community Award Winners
Congratulations to this year’s Ilfracombe Community Award winners! Earlier this month, there was a ceremony recognizing the hard working community members who give their time, energy and creative efforts to improve the lives of Ilfracombe’s residents. See the entire list of winners honoured: https://ilfracombetowncouncil.gov.uk/2026/10/16/ilfracombe-community-awards-winners-2026/
Helping Wildlife During the Winter
As is readily apparent, we are in the midst of a chilly fall and approaching what will likely be a tempestuous winter (given El Niño’s impacts). There are ways you can help local wildlife endure the challenging weather to come. Here are some resources to learn how you can help.
Wildlife
- Wildlife: helping through winter (RHS): https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/helping-through-winter
- Helping wildlife in winter (RSPCA): https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/seasonal/winter/wildlife
- Help wildlife in the cold (The Wildlife Trusts): https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/help-wildlife-cold
- 10 ways to help wildlife in winter (Woodland Trust): https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/10-ways-to-help-wildlife-in-winter/
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Birds
- How to help wild birds in cold weather (RSPB): https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/seasonal/winter/wildlife/wildbirds
- Three ways you can help birds in a cold snap (RSPB): https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/three-ways-you-can-help-birds-in-a-cold-snap
- Expert tips on helping birds during the winter (Happy Beaks blog): https://blog.happybeaks.co.uk/help-advice/expert-tips-helping-birds-during-the-winter/
- 5 easy ways you can help birds during cold weather (Country Living): https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/a63379985/help-birds-cold-weather-david-lindo/
Photo by Ju00fcrgen on Pexels.com
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