Chatham has announced its intention to bid for the first ever UK Town of Culture, a title that would bring up to £3 million to the Medway town for a year of cultural celebration in 2028.
The campaign, led by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, with support from Medway Council and a growing coalition of cultural partners was unveiled at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Partners gathered in front of HMS GANNET, a proud symbol of the town’s maritime heritage. In a playful local twist, several attendees donned traffic cone hats, a nod to the Sir Thomas Waghorn statue and its place as the unofficial emblem of the town’s personality.
For more than 400 years, Chatham has been shaped by innovation, craftsmanship and community. Since 1547, the Dockyard’s world-class shipbuilding and naval service have anchored the town’s identity, producing generations of skilled workers and ships that defined Britain’s maritime story. From pioneering advances in industry and engineering to a thriving contemporary cultural scene, the spirit of ingenuity and resilience continues to shape the town’s creativity today. It is a story of national importance and one the consortium is proud to celebrate.
Over the next six weeks, cultural organisations and community groups – including us – will help develop the vision through a series of workshops. These sessions will shape the Expression of Interest, ensuring it reflects local pride, creativity and ambition.
Chatham’s story spans centuries. Now it has an opportunity not only to show the nation what it can become next, but to create a renewed sense of pride in place and raise aspirations across the town, ensuring that its next chapter is shaped by and for the people who call Chatham home.
Richard Morsley, CEO, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said: “Chatham has a remarkable story and a community with real spirit. Our campaign celebrates the history of this place and the spirit of the people who shaped it. As a town we have a proven track record of delivering ambitious cultural events that benefit local people. Town of Culture status would allow us to scale up that ambition, shine a national light on everything this town has to offer and strengthen pride across our communities. We are proud to be leading this on behalf of Chatham.”
The consortium will submit its Expression of Interest by 31 March. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is expected to announce a shortlist in the spring, with the winning town confirmed in early 2027.
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