Ipswich Misses City of Culture 2029 Shortlist, Strategy Goes On

Ipswich will not go through to the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2029. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) named the four places that will contest the final stage today. The Ipswich 2029 bid team says the work, the partnerships and the energy from the campaign will carry on into a ten-year Culture and Heritage Strategy for the town.

That strategy matters to anyone who lives, works or spends free time in Ipswich. It sets out how the town will grow its audiences, help local talent build a future here and make sure culture reaches every part of Ipswich.

What the bid achieved

Ipswich was one of 17 places to submit an Expression of Interest in February 2026. In March it made the longlist of nine, beating larger places including Bristol. The longlisting came with a £60,000 DCMS grant to develop the full bid, which was submitted on 10 August 2026.

The campaign brought together the council, businesses, education, artists, community groups, Ipswich Town FC and communities from across the town. Its Ambassadors were Ed Sheeran, Brian Eno, Nandi Bushell, Griff Rhys Jones and Paul Greengrass. First-stage funding came from Ipswich Town FC, Suffolk New College, Birketts and Churchmanor Estates.

Bid Director Amy Vaughan said the team had wanted to go further, but that the decision “does not take away from what Ipswich has achieved”. She pointed to new partnerships, new investment and a higher national profile. She also said the bid took conversations about culture into streets, schools and community centres, with thousands of people contributing ideas, energy and support.

“The bid was always the beginning, not the end.”

The ten-year strategy

The Culture and Heritage Strategy is owned and led by ‘We Are Ipswich’. This is an independent collective of the town’s nationally recognised arts and heritage organisations. It was co-created with the sector and partners after a town-wide consultation, with support from Arts Council England.

Douglas Rintoul chairs We Are Ipswich and is Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the New Wolsey Theatre. He said the strategy was in the making before anyone thought about a City of Culture bid. In his view the bid has brought more people into that shared effort and “supercharged” its energy. He added that the strategy belongs to the town and that work is already under way.

Others involved in the bid said they would keep going:

• Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, thanked everyone involved. He said the council will build on the foundations the bid created as it develops and delivers the strategy.
• Jack Abbott MP said he is proud of the town and that the confidence and partnerships the bid built are here to stay. He promised to keep fighting for investment and opportunities for Ipswich.
• Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, said winning would have fast-tracked the town’s cultural transformation. He said that remains the goal and that the connections formed will last.
• Bryony Hope of DanceEast said artists, young people and communities have shown a real appetite for a bigger cultural offer. She said DanceEast is committed to working with partners to build on it.

The sound of the campaign

The bid’s anthem, “Big Up The Bid”, became the soundtrack to a summer of consultation and campaign events. It grew out of a local youth and community engagement project. It was inspired by the town’s history and was written and produced in Ipswich by Ipswich artists.

The track was created by rappers Voodoo Brown and daughter Praise B, with music producer and composer Jimmy Green, mix engineer Jake Aylward and Grace Newman, a young person who worked as assistant engineer. It was recorded at Punch Studios.

Both Voodoo and Praise B are community champions, and both said the experience had shown them more of what the town offers. Voodoo Brown said he had learnt there is more going on for young people in Ipswich than he realised. He said they “could really do with the support” and that he hopes those services can keep growing. He added that recognition might take longer without the title, but he believes Ipswich will get it.

Praise B said she was disappointed but that “it’s not all bad”. Working on the song taught her more about the town’s events and community centres. She said people can work together and keep making Ipswich better “one step at a time”.

Where to find out more

The Culture and Heritage Strategy is free to read here

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