Members of cultural groups in Spalding say they’re backing the bid to be named the UK Town of Culture in 2028.
On Monday the Spalding Town Board said it would put forward the town for the honour which would receive £3m for projects.
The Voice asked some of those involved in cultural groups in Spalding for their views.
Alan Jackson, the chair of the Spalding Amateur Drama and Operatic Society (SADOS):
“As chair of SADOS, a group that has long been at the heart of arts and culture in Spalding, I am delighted to see the town submitting a bid to become a UK Town of Culture. While on a smaller scale than the UK City of Culture programme, this initiative represents a significant opportunity to boost civic pride and deepen engagement with the arts across our community.
“Crucially, it also opens the door to much-needed funding, which is essential to sustaining and growing the many organisations and cultural activities that enrich our town.
“On behalf of SADOS, I would like to wish everyone involved in the bid every success. We very much hope Spalding secures this recognition and the opportunities it brings.”
Karl Gernert, director of Act II Theatre Group:
“Culture is about people, not place. As an area’ demographics change, then so too does the culture, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
“There’s enough cultural space to preserve our heritage plus explore new influences. There are lots of great artists, writers and performers home grown here in South Holland.
“The issue is often one of engagement. the landscape of media consumption (via streaming sites, online content etc.) is so saturated it is no longer a case of ‘if you build it, they will come’ The challenge for local creatives is to make themselves heard amongst the noise of everyday life. If becoming a Town Of Culture helps in this sense, that can only be a good thing.”
Chris Dark, founder of the All Inclusive Music Project, which holds Open Mic nights and is putting on a mini-festival on May 9:
“I think the town’s culture bid is very exciting.
“If successful, it’ll raise awareness of our small market town and promote what’s good about Spalding and the surrounding areas.
“As a small town, Spalding packs so much into a little area. It offers historic houses, one of the biggest Flower Parades in the UK, traditional festivals, such as the Pumpkin Festival, to its first Neurodiversity Music Festival later this year.
“he town centre has been invested in but could do with much more throughout the current year. But a Town of culture bid will hopefully make the town more recognised by a wider audience.”
Harrison Fuller of the Past Present Future Community Interest Company looking to put on events including the BBQ67 next year:
“I think the Town of Culture bid is an excellent competition and I am glad Spalding has thrown its hat into the ring. Without ambition and looking forward, progress falters and the town risks being left further behind.
“The competition is about regeneration – celebrating what is already there in terms of network, infrastructure and heritage, but also how that can be activated to benefit the local community, not just through improving economics, but pride in place and well-being.
“There is much to celebrate about the town’s rich history. Ayscoughfee and the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society are, rightly, always put forward as prime examples, but stories like BBQ67 (always happy to include a quick plug!) show a deeper, richer story that is ready to be told.”
Petronella Keeling, the chair of the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society and also a member of the Spalding Town Board:
“We are delighted that the Town Board, South Holland District Council, and other key partners are putting in an application for Town of Culture in 2028. At Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, we are proud to conserve and care for internationally-significant collections that help uncover the unique stories of the town’s people, places, and projects.
“We are pleased to support the bid. It’s an incredible opportunity to continue building upon work to protect, develop, and display the town’s history, arts, and culture. We hope residents will get behind the bid: having this ambition will help bring people together to share knowledge. It allows a range of partners to develop and expand creative, social, and educational programmes that will benefit everyone in the area.
“At Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, we firmly believe in the positive impact of partnership working. We’ve already seen a multitude of benefits from working with Ayscoughfee Hall Museum to share our collections and exhibitions with the public. And what better way to celebrate the reopening of the Society’s Museum on Broad Street in 2027 than by putting Spalding on a national platform with its ambition to be the UK’s Town of Culture?”
John Bland, chair of Spalding and District Civic Society:
“In principle, I think entering the competition is a good idea. Whilst the conditions for Spalding to be considered as a leading candidate to win the competition do not currently exist, I do think that there is benefit in putting forward an expression of interest as it should provide the Neighbourhood Board and the local authority an important opportunity to learn what additional work is required to become a more serious candidate should the competition be repeated.
“As the bid seems to have come as a surprise to many, including Spalding and District Civic Society, it is clear that the partnership that the Government expects still has some way to go in Spalding, albeit we are in a much stronger position than we were four or five years ago.
“As a member of the Institute of Place Management, I have been advocating a strong local partnership between the various sectors that have a role in making the town work for all for a number of years, and it has been pleasing to see things starting to come together. The benefits will become increasingly apparent this year for all to see, particularly as a direct result of the work of Spalding BID. The IPM are very clear in their research that a BID, along with integrated public-private partnership working between local authorities and a wide range of sectors are vital ingredients for a town to succeed. https://www.placemanagement.org/research/
“There is a Welsh word that is very useful in describing what makes a Place. The word is “Cynefin” which underpins the Welsh curriculum. There is no direct English translation, but it is defined as the place where we feel we belong, where the people and landscape around us are familiar, and the sights and sounds are reassuringly recognisable.’ It is also used in the “broader sense of community, culture, heritage and identity. It is a holistic concept that encompasses the physical, social, cultural, spiritual and economic dimensions of a place, and how these dimensions interact with each other. It is seen as the historic, cultural and social space which is shaped and defined by the community that inhabits it”
“Whether one refers to the “Cynefin” of Spalding or the place management of Spalding, the principles are the same. It is the community that should be empowered to shape it.”
Coun Mark Le Sage who has oversaw the launch of Ayscoughfest:
“Anything that helps put Spalding firmly back on the map, increases footfall and encourages new visitors has got to be a positive step.”
Amber Sinclair of the Rock School Bus:
“I think it is great that Spalding is going for the Town of Culture bid because it has so much potential.
“Having lived and created here for fifteen years, I believe Spalding possesses immense untapped cultural potential.
“While we exist in an area often overlooked by arts funding, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible grassroots energy within our community—from the drama, music, and dance groups that breathe life into the South Holland Centre and Sessions House to the open-air performances at Ayscoughfee Hall.
“However, without consistent financial support, many of our long-standing festivals are barely scraping by, struggling to pay the artists and engineers who make them possible.
“We have so many talented local creatives with big ideas, yet events that could offer free, varied access to the arts remain unfunded.
“This is why initiatives like Transported are so vital, but with millions in National Lottery funding behind them, their impact could be multiplied by genuinely integrating local talent rather than relying solely on outside professionals.
“The creative community here—including Rock School Bus, which is dedicated to providing young people with free, term-time alternatives for creative expression—deserves a seat at the table.
“We should be involved in shaping the bid and delivering the events, ensuring investment reaches the grassroots where it can nurture our homegrown potential.”
Zeph Churchill runs numerous musical groups including the Spalding Encore Orchestra and the Spalding Community Choir:
“As a musical director working with community musicians in Spalding, I think this is exactly the kind of ambition the town needs. We already have a strong cultural heartbeat here, this would give it the recognition, and crucially the investment, to grow.
“From Act II to the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, the South Holland Centre, and a wide network of choirs, orchestras, theatre groups, schools, and independent creatives, there is far more happening in Spalding than people often realise. What makes it special is that it’s not just about performance, it’s about participation. People don’t just watch, they join in.
“I think that matters, because the arts here are doing real work: bringing people together, supporting wellbeing, and creating connections in a way very little else can.
“Town of Culture status could be a turning point. With the right backing, we could expand what already exists, reach more people, and give creativity in Spalding the platform it truly deserves.”
The Spalding Flower Parade committee was approached for a comment but hadn’t responded at the time of going to press.
A spokesman for the Spalding Town Board said: “The programme is still in development but the funding can support new and existing activities such as the flower parade. There will be further work with stakeholders in the coming weeks to shape the proposed programme for Spalding.”
