Following the successful Town Summit at the Astor Theatre last December, a steering group is now working on an exciting bid for Deal, Walmer and their environs to become the first UK Town of Culture. The success of the pop-up art gallery in the Old Factory Shop showed what we can achieve when we work together.
The Competition
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has launched the first UK Town of Culture Competition. We have registered as a bidder and are currently preparing our Expression of Interest submission.
Key dates
31 March 2026 – deadline for Expression of Interest
Spring 2026 – shortlist announced
Summer/Autumn 2026 – shortlisted towns develop full bids
Early 2027 – winner announced
2028 – winning town delivers six-month cultural programme
The prizes
Winner: £3 million to deliver the 2028 programme
Two runners-up: £250,000 each to implement parts of their proposals
Shortlisted towns: £60,000 each to develop their full bid
The Deal Partnership Bid
We're building a broad partnership bringing together local authorities, businesses, community groups, clubs, heritage and arts organisations. This partnership will lead our bid to be the UK's first Town of Culture but will be valuable regardless of the competition outcome. It will improve collaboration, engage our communities, and help make our town a better place to live, work and visit.
We will face strong competition from nearby towns like Dover, Folkstone, Margate, Worthing, Hastings, and Brighton and many more. Some have established partnerships and greater resources. However, we believe Deal has a compelling story based on its rich history, artistic and cultural connections, traditions, and unique identity.
Our Cultural Programme Ideas
We're still designing the programme with our partners, but it could include:
Support for artists and creative businesses - open studios, makers markets, pop-up exhibitions in vacant premises and digital showcases
Commissions for public artworks, creative experiences, temporary sculptures, and poetry trails along the seafront and green spaces
Heritage trails and storytelling projects
Extended season of music and arts with open air concerts along the seafront
Projections, light installations on heritage buildings and light trails
Art and craft workshops in community centres, schools, churches, and pubs
Open-air theatre and youth-led performances
Next Steps
A Deal Partnership Summit will be held soon, where partner organisations can learn more and get directly involved. We're also meeting with a 'core group' of partners to design the 2028 cultural programme.
Dover District Council have given in-principle support and we are arranging meetings with senior council officials. We are also meeting Deal Town Council representatives, and business groups.
Why It Matters
Even if we don't win, this process will:
Create a lasting town-wide partnership bringing people together;
Build our capacity and preparedness for future funding bids;
Show local and national authorities that our community is working together to make Deal and Walmer a better place to live, work, and visit;
If we're successful, the funding will create enormous benefits and opportunities for everyone in Deal, Walmer, and surrounding areas.