The team behind Medway’s bid has welcomed the announcement by the government that a record 20 areas have entered the race to become UK City of Culture in 2025.

The competition uses culture to develop areas outside London which have sometimes been overlooked – delivering major benefits for local economies.

Medway, which has been developing its bid for 18 months, will find out if it has been long-listed in September, ahead of a final announcement next May.

Its expression of interest submitted in July was the culmination of an engagement project in which thousands of people of all ages, communities, businesses and organisations took part.

The full list of entrants is: Angus – The Tay Cities Region; Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; The City of Bangor and Northwest Wales; Bradford; Carlisle City – The Borderlands Region; Conwy County; Cornwall; County Durham; Cumbria – The Borderlands Region; Derby; Dumfries and Galloway – The Borderlands Region; Dundee – The Tay Cities Region; Fife – The Tay Cities Region; Great Yarmouth & East Suffolk; Lancashire; Medway; City of Newport; Northumberland – The Borderlands Region; Perth and Kinross – The Tay Cities Region; Powys; Scottish Borders – The Borderlands Region; Southampton; Stirling; Torbay and Exeter; Wakefield District; City of Wolverhampton and Wrexham County Borough.

Jatin Patel, co-chair of the Medway 2025 trustees and creative director at local fashion studio Kalikas Armour, said: “The fact so many places are bidding shows just how monumental the benefits are.

"We’ve heard Medway people describe the future they want for themselves and the area and our submission to the judges is a bold vision for how culture can build the foundations for Medway’s future.

"This isn’t a vanity exercise, we saw from Hull in 2017 the investment which flowed into the area, the jobs created, the spend tourists brought with them for local businesses and the opportunities young people got.

"This is the moment to back ourselves and bring a moment of real change and potential to Medway.”

The Towns' expression of interest reflects the rich military history, talent for creative innovation and industrial heritage as a place built and shaped by communities of everyday people.

Medway’s world-class heritage and creativity have been key to its rejuvenation after the mass unemployment caused by the closure of Chatham Dockyard in the 1980s.

In previous competitions, bidding for the title in its own right has been shown to have a hugely positive impact for places across the country.

Previous long-listed bids have used the process to bring together lasting local, national and international partners and attract investment.

The 2025 title winner will take the baton from Coventry, the 2021 UK City of Culture.

To find out more about Medway’s bid, visit: medway2025.co.uk

Follow @Medway2025 on social media to get involved and have your say. Tweet or post your support using hashtag #Medway2025.

Sign up to show your support as a business at www.medway2025.co.uk/business or submit an idea for how you would like to see Medway brought to life on the City of Culture website or at any library.

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