East Grinstead’s Town of Culture 2028 Bid

East Grinstead Town Council has today learned that the town has not been shortlisted in the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 competition.

With an incredible 398 expressions of interest submitted from towns across the UK, only 15 places were selected to progress to the next stage of the competition. Reaching this stage was always going to be highly competitive, and we congratulate the shortlisted towns on their success.

While this is, of course, disappointing, it in no way detracts from the tremendous effort that went into preparing East Grinstead’s bid or the valuable ideas, partnerships and community insight gathered throughout the process.

The engagement process brought together local organisations, businesses, community groups, artists, volunteers and residents to celebrate what makes East Grinstead unique. It showcased our rich heritage, vibrant cultural offer and ambitious vision for the future, while strengthening relationships that will continue to benefit the town for years to come.

Rather than marking the end of a journey, the bid has provided a strong foundation on which to build. Many of the projects, partnerships and ambitions developed through the process will now be explored further as part of the Town Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting culture, creativity and community life in East Grinstead.

Town Clerk, Sam Heynes said:

“Naturally, we are disappointed not to have reached the shortlist, but we are immensely proud of the bid we submitted. The process has shown what can be achieved when our community comes together with a shared ambition. We have developed exciting ideas, forged new partnerships and gained valuable insight into the opportunities ahead. We are determined that this work will not be wasted and look forward to taking many of these ideas forward over the coming years.”

East Grinstead Town Council would like to extend its sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the bid. From those who attended workshops and shared their ideas, to our partners , volunteers, businesses, cultural organisations and residents, your enthusiasm, creativity and support made this possible. And a special thanks to Chequer Mead and Community People for working on the application with us.

Although we will not be continuing in the UK Town of Culture competition, our ambition for East Grinstead remains unchanged. We will continue working with our partners and community to develop new cultural opportunities, celebrate our remarkable heritage and ensure East Grinstead continues to thrive as a vibrant place to live, work and visit.

More information on the shortlist here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/shortlist-for-uk-town-of-culture-revealed.

As part of our entry into the UK Town of Culture Award, we have submitted a digital postcard to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to celebrate our town’s culture and heritage.

It was fantastic to see so many people there celebrating everything that makes East Grinstead such a special place.

If you were unable to attend, we would really appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete our short survey. It covers the questions discussed during the meeting and gives you the chance to share your ideas. This also covers what you would like to see happen if we were to win.

The survey can be completed anonymously, or you can leave your email at the end if you’re happy for us to contact you for further input if needed.

Your thoughts and opinions are incredibly valuable and will help us showcase everything East Grinstead has to offer, as well as the amazing community spirit in our town. We really need everyone to come together and get involved!

East Grinstead Town Council is inviting residents, businesses, artists, community groups, and local organisations to take part in an open, interactive ideas session to help shape East Grinstead’s bid to become 2028’s Town of Culture.

This workshop will bring the community together to explore the town’s story and generate creative ideas for a cultural programme that reflects East Grinstead’s unique identity. With the bid built around the theme “Roots and Routes”, the session will invite participants to share ideas inspired by the town’s medieval High Street, its coaching‑route and railway heritage, its diverse communities, the legacy of McIndoe and the Guinea Pig Club, its sporting achievements, and the landscapes that define local life.

A key focus of the session will be how art can be developed and embedded across the town. Participants will be encouraged to explore opportunities for public art, creative trails, temporary installations, community‑led artworks, and projects that bring culture into everyday spaces. The aim is to use art not only to celebrate East Grinstead’s heritage but also to raise the town’s cultural profile and create new ways for residents and visitors to experience its stories.

The event will also look at how East Grinstead’s vibrant annual programme — including Vintage Bus Day, the Classic Car Show, the summer music events, May Fair, Sussex Marathon, the Bonfire procession, and the Big Reveal at Christmas — can be expanded and reimagined as part of a Town of Culture. Ideas will be gathered on how these events can incorporate arts, performance, heritage interpretation, and community participation.

Attendees will take part in hands‑on activities and discussion tables designed to uncover the stories, places, people, and traditions that matter most to the community. The session aims to gather ideas that celebrate the town’s heritage, highlight its cultural strengths, building ideas to improve understanding of East Grinstead’s history while raising its profile regionally and nationally.