The incredible journey toward becoming the UK City of Culture is reaching a crucial milestone! As the official consultation for our town’s inspiring Ipswich 2029 bid draws to a close, the team behind the campaign is calling on local leaders and organisations to step forward as Business Backers and Community Champions. With the final submission to the Government fast approaching, now is the perfect time to help carry the massive momentum built over the summer right across the finish line.
A Summer of Community Spirit
Over the last few months, the Ipswich 2029 team has been busy gathering brilliant ideas from all corners of our community. From bespoke forms on the official website to pop-up consultations hosted by Suffolk Libraries, the town has truly come alive with creativity. Local schools have been getting involved with special toolkits, whilst Creative Producers and key organisations have been hosting creative workshops, youth Hackathons, and curated roundtable discussions.
The response has been nothing short of amazing. More than a thousand people have engaged across over one hundred different events and activities, reaching every single neighbourhood and estate across the borough!
Amy Vaughan, Bid Director for Ipswich 2029, has been thrilled by the response: “Over a thousand people will have helped shape this bid, a testament to the fiercely proud and creative spirit of Ipswich. Whether an idea came from a young person at a hackathon, a resident at a roadshow, a library or university event, a one-to-one conversation or an online submission, it was captured against the same core questions. This helps us to spot the common threads and the things people care about, no matter where they live or who they are.”
She added, “The energy and momentum we have witnessed through this process is testament to the town’s confidence, ambition and willingness to step up to meet this opportunity.”
How You Can Show Your Support
As the bid team finalises the submission using all the fantastic input from the consultation, they are looking for two new ways for the town to show its backing:
- Business Backers: Calling all local businesses! You can support the bid publicly by allowing Ipswich 2029 to use your name and logo to show solidarity, whilst helping to spread the word through your own channels.
- Community Champions: Are you a leader or part of an organisation representing different groups across the town, county, or region? You can use your platform to reach as many people as possible and encourage others to get behind the bid.
A Bid Built by Ipswich, for Ipswich
Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, praised the town’s efforts: “What we have seen this summer is a town coming together with real energy and real ideas. This is a bid built by Ipswich, for Ipswich, and that only happens because people gave their time to have their say, whether that was in a library, a creative workshop or a roundtable discussion.”
“As we move into the final stages, I would urge every business and every community leader who believes in this town to step forward as a Business Backer or Community Champion. This is our moment to show the country exactly what Ipswich is capable of.”
What’s Next for Ipswich 2029?
The full bid is set to be submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on 10 August 2026. After making the impressive longlist of nine places nationally back in March, thanks to an initial Expression of Interest and a £60,000 DCMS grant, a final shortlist of four places will be announced in autumn 2026. The ultimate winner will be named later in the year.
The campaign already boasts some fantastic support from its first Ambassadors—well-known names passionate about championing the town. With stars like Ed Sheeran, Brian Eno, and Nandi Bushell spanning music, theatre, film, writing, broadcasting, farming, and conservation, the message is clear: Ipswich is a town that nurtures talent and deserves to be on the national stage.
To find out more about becoming a Business Backer or Community Champion, and to read the full list of Ambassadors, head over to the Ipswich 2029 official website. Let’s back the bid and show the UK just how much we love our town!
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