THE Isle of Bute has been shortlisted by the UK Government to become UK Town of Culture in 2028.
If the unique whole-island bid wins, Bute will be awarded a £3m grant to host a year-long programme of events.
Julie L Tait, CEO of Rothesay Pavilion, who led the initial application in partnership with Argyll and Bute Council, said: “Our Town of Culture bid is about much more than a title. It’s about unlocking opportunity, celebrating who we are and showing the rest of the UK why Bute’s future is every bit as inspiring as its remarkable past.”
The £3m is the ultimate prize in the UK Town of Culture bid. There are three categories in the competition: small, medium and large towns. Bute is shortlisted in the small town band.
A winner will be named in each category. An overall winner from those will receive the multi-million-pound award. The other two will win £250,000 each to put on part of their bid programme.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “The Isle of Bute has a culture stretching all the way from the Bronze Age to the present day and that is something for every town in the world to envy. I’m genuinely excited to see what their full bid brings.”
And it is the full bid that will now focus minds at the Pavilion Trust and Argyll and Bute Council. The UK Government has awarded each shortlisted group £60,000 to work on the detail of what they would present over the year as UK Town of Culture 2028.
Julie Tait said: “We looked at the criteria and decided the whole island should be the bid. That is its strength. That is its canvas. Rothesay is at the heart of it all, but culture and celebration go island-wide.
“This whole competition is designed to put places on the map. Bute has a magnetism over the centuries.
“We will be driving what happens from now, but we’re doing it with the community.”
There are 16 weeks to go until the deadline for applications. Along the way, Julie Tait is also working to secure the International Festival of Democracy coming to Bute next year.
“That will be something to be gained. It could go anywhere, but we are in the game for it.”
The proprietor of the Glenburn Hotel in Rothesay, Michael Newberry, said the Culture Town shortlisting is an excellent thing.
“It ties in so well with everything happening on the island. It will bring opportunities for small businesses and is a win-win for everyone.”
Phil Prentice, who has championed investment and development of towns across Scotland, told The Isle of Bute News: “This is a perfect opportunity for all of Bute to get recognition.
“It is a unique bid. The island is the size of a small town and has all the moving parts of a small town and more.”
He said it is important the key players on the island are brought to the table with the Pavilion and the council to shape the title bid.
“That means input from Bute Community Council, the BID team, Adventure Lane, the Winter Garden, the ferries, the hotels and more. We need to focus on the positive this application could bring and the kind of future the award could generate.”
The deadline for submission is November.
