BUTE is being lined up to become a multi-million pound UK Town of Culture in 2028 with a unique all-island application.
Argyll and Bute Council has agreed to make the pitch in partnership with Rothesay Pavilion. It is a move Bute Councillor Reeni Kennedy-Boyle said she is “absolutely delighted” about.
She told The Isle of Bute News: “It’s a unique move because it’s not just about the town of Rothesay, it’s about all of Bute. We have a great deal of cultural heritage across Bute. It is great to have the support for the plan.”
The UK Government has invited what it terms “expressions of interest” to be considered as a UK Town of Culture. There are three categories in the competition with Bute targeting the smallest, which covers populations of less than 20,000 people. The winning bids get £3m each.
The executive director of Argyll and Bute Council, Kirsty Flanagan, said there are five main towns in the area that could bid for the title, but believed Bute affords the best opportunity for achieving the 2028 Town of Culture in this round of funding.
She added council officers had considered the ambitions of the fund and the resources required for submitting the bid and running a successful outcome.
Kirsty Flanagan noted: “Officers have concluded that the best fit would be the Isle of Bute, with the Rothesay Pavilion Charity ideally positioned to deliver this, working with other stakeholders as appropriate including local community representatives and bodies such as the Mount Stuart Trust.”
Argyll and Bute Council said the island has a rich cultural heritage formed over 5,500 years with key venues such as Rothesay Castle, the Winter Gardens, Bute Yard and Mount Stuart.
The island also has a significant number of festivals and events such as ButeFest, Isle of Bute Jazz Festival, Bute Noir, Bute Annual Highland Games and Agricultural Show, Pride and others.
Councillor Kennedy-Boyle, who is the chair of the council’s Bute and Cowal Committee, said winning the project would not only encompass the island, it would “reach across the water to Dunoon and Cowal”.
She said the focus would be Bute but there are opportunities for collaboration in Cowal.
“I could see us working well together with Dunoon Presents, the Bute BID and the community councils.
“There’s great Victorian heritage in Dunoon and Cowal as well as across Bute.
“Bute could and will deliver lots of opportunities to link with Cowal.”
The applications for UK Town of Culture 2028 will be judged on three main criteria: Your story – the unique story of the town; Culture for everyone – how the town will design a cultural programme for all; and Making it happen – how the town will then deliver a successful programme.
Expressions of interest are required to be submitted by March 31, and towns shortlisted will receive £60,000 each to develop their full proposal. The winner of each category will be granted £3m to deliver their programme in 2028.
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