Town with ‘story to tell’ to enter culture competition

WATLINGTON is expected to bid to become a “Town of Culture”.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport launched the new competition last month.

It will see towns compete in three categories — small, medium and large — with the winners being crowned in 2028.

Watlington would enter the small-town category and if it wins, it will receive £3m to hold a cultural event.

There is also two runner-up prizes of £250,000.

Fiona McLean, of Chapel Street, has worked as a marketing consultant for about 30 years, and is writing the bid with help from Watlington Parish Council.

Ms McLean said: “We’ve developed a proposal based on three principles building on the existing culture and community activities in Watlington.

“I moved here last summer, and I’ve just been overwhelmed at how high we punch above our weight in cultural activities.”

Ms McLean, who previously lived in Windsor, said that the number of community-led cultural activities in Watlington “outstrips” anything she has experienced before. “I just think we’ve got a great story to tell,” she said. “It will share the story of the town to create a sense of shared community across long-standing residents, the newer arrivals and the youth programme as well. I think that is really important.

“As the town is changing and expanding, it would be really good to bring those diverse bodies together and the judging board defines culture quite broadly, so we could involve all residents in their experience and events, encourage them to participate and maybe help them to develop a skill as well. It’s not necessarily high culture, it’s accessible culture.”

Towns are to be judged on three main criteria — the “unique” story of the town, how it would design a cultural programme for all residents and how it would then deliver the programme.

Ms McLean has contacted about 30 community groups as well as businesses, schools and churches to ask whether Watlington should put itself forward to which the response was “overwhelmingly supportive”.

Ms McLean said: “One of the things that will be put in place this summer is the Arts Spine Trail, which will try to connect the new part of the town with the older, original town.

“I think this competition will also give us another opportunity to bring together the old and the new.

“It’s great that we’ve got a rich past and traditions but the future is where the young people are coming from and where development and town vibrancy will come from as well.

“It’s about really putting Watlington on the map and celebrating what we are and what we can be.”

Ms McLean said she can only see this as a “positive thing for Watlington”, adding: “Even if we don’t win, I think as long as we get through the expression of interest and we get the grant to then pull the bid together, we’ll have a cohesive cultural plan that we can then take forward to do other things.”

The parish council has agreed to support Ms McLean with her formal expression of interest, which must be submitted by March 31.

Ms McLean and the parish council have said they will discuss Watlington holding its own year if they do not win the competition, as there is “a lot to celebrate”.

Nicky Smallbone, who chairs the parish council, said: “We are ready. There is a real sense that this is the right moment for Watlington. The encouragement from across the town has given us the confidence to step forward.

“This entry is about confidence and legacy. It is about backing our talent, strengthening community pride and opening our landscape and cultural pride to more people. We want to say hello to the future, without losing sight of the past.”

If invited to develop a full bid, the steering group will launch an open call for ideas so that residents can help shape what the “Town of Culture 2028” could look like.

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