Sandown’s bid team is buoyant after learning their proposal to become UK Town of Culture 2028 has been chosen by Sir Phil Redmond’s national judging panel to progress in the competition. Sandown is one of 15 towns selected from nearly 400 across the UK who will now receive £60,000 to ramp up their bid to the next stage.
The bid makes no bones about Sandown’s rundown reputation and plans to use UK Town of Culture status for the local community to become ‘Tide Turners’ and kickstart the coastal town’s regeneration.
Sandown mayor Alex Lightfoot says:
‘This is a huge moment for Sandown and we are overjoyed. Our bid evolves from the community up and we aim to show how together we can be Tide Turners’.
Sandown now has until the autumn to impress the Town of Culture judges with the next stage of the town’s bid.
Sandown bid leader Tracy Mikich has a grateful message for the Town of Culture judges::
‘In the spirit of the Sandown Clown, this is a giant high-stepping leap for Sandown. We had great fun as a community formulating an entry based on our incredible story, one that embraces glitz and decay, ebb and flow, and all the wonder we can envisage. Thank you for selecting us, watch this space’.
For further information, contact Tracy Mikich, Sandown bid leader