ROTHESAY Pavilion is spearheading the call to help the Isle of Bute secure the status of UK Town of Culture in 2028.
The multi-million pound award is being described as having the potential to transform Bute, generating a part for everyone across the island and a positive profile around the world.
Pavilion CEO Julie Tait told The Isle of Bute News: “We have the people, the landscape, the heritage and the will to win.
“There is not much we lack,” she said. “We even have the best shinty players.”
The project, funded by the UK Government and organised by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is seeking to award Town of Culture status in three categories based on population. Bute has entered under the small town criteria for a population of under 20,000.
The bid has the full support of Argyll and Bute Council. Its policy lead for business development, Cllr Math Campbell-Sturgess, said: “Bute has so many positives including its many festivals, its rich history, a range of venues and of course its warm welcome. There’s a real creative and cultural buzz about the island and a tremendous sense of community spirit.”
Julie Tait said she gets the curiosity that comes up when people mention that Bute is not a town.
“The DCMS is very open to applications from all communities. This whole island is a unique offer. There are not many towns you take a ferry to and the whole island is like a town that’s sometimes more like a village.
“It is a great community.”
A broad range of partners on Bute, including the Winter Garden, are already signed up to be part of the initial Expression of Interest, which, if successful, would see the team awarded 60,000 to create a programme of events to celebrate the title of UK Town of Culture 2028.
If Bute then goes on to win that status, it would scoop 3 million.
“It would be transformative,” said Julie Tait. “Even a slice of that would be incredible.
“Our bid will be as strong as anything on offer across the UK. We have to hope and believe from the start we can do it.”
She sees the Pavilion as the engine room for the future of cultural events across Bute. “Nobody will be excluded. If you want to be part of it, join in,” she said.
Julie Tait accepts there is a lot of hard work ahead to generate the next part of the programme, quite apart from delivery itself in 2028.
“It will be challenging building relationships, trust, engagement. There will be some tough work reassuring people, but it is all about listening and delivering, being honest.”
The DCMS is currently studying proposals received from across the UK. The UK Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, has indicated the outcome of this first round will be announced in late spring.
Shortlisted towns will then receive 60,000 each to work up a full 2028 proposal by this autumn.
Julie Tait concludes the island has many stories to tell and so much to offer. “We will be the activator, the generator. Even thinking about applying, just being at this stage alone is positive.”
