Beeston and Kimberley lining up bids for £3m Town of Culture crown

OVERALL UK WINNER WILL SECURE INVESTMENT FOR ATTRACTIONS

- By LYNETTE PINCHESS

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE towns are bidding for a £3m prize pot in a UK-wide competition to spend on cultural activities such as art, drama, music and dance.

The Town of Culture is brand new and similar to the Government's City of Culture scheme that was launched in 2009.

The competition is targeted at all towns, whether small, medium or large, said the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with winners in each category and one becoming the overall UK Town of Culture in 2028, securing the £3m jackpot to deliver a cultural programme.

The other two finalists will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their bid.

Beeston, a town known for its Oxjam music festival, Light Night, colourful street murals and a local magazine, is one of the first in Notts to put its name forward.

University of Nottingham research professor Sir Martyn Poliakoff is championing the town and believes it's in with a real shot. He said: "Beeston's got talent, Beeston's got vision, Beeston's got culture, Beeston's got to win."

Kimberley, just ten miles away, is also launching a bid. Ashfield is planning to make a submission and is currently holding meetings to decide which area has the biggest potential. Ideas are being mooted in Newark and Southwell but Gedling isn't participating. Nothing has been decided in Rushcliffe or Mansfield.

In Beeston, a coalition between Beeston and District Civic Society, Art Culture Tourism, Beeston Street Art and The Beestonian magazine is working on the bid.

Matt Turpin, editor of the Beestonian, said: "Beeston has long been seen as punching well above its weight when it comes to culture, with a storied history and a contemporary scene.