Community vote to influence final Lerwick town of culture submission
Lerwick’s bid to become the UK’s town of culture has entered a decisive phase, with a public vote now open on proposed £200,000 commissions drawn from a consultation that received almost 1,300 contributions. The vote, which closes on Sunday 25 October, is intended to help shape the town’s final submission to the national competition.
The bidding process follows a community consultation and a shortlisting stage that has placed Lerwick among six towns in the small town category. The overall winner will receive £3 million to deliver a cultural programme in 2028, while the two other shortlisted towns in each category will be awarded £250,000 to deliver elements of their bids.
What’s on offer and how to vote
The public are invited to cast one vote in each of three categories — inspiration, play and launch — from the list of proposals published by the bid team. Results of the public vote will inform the commissioning panel but will not be the sole determinant of which commission is ultimately selected.
- A proposed contemporary broch, modelled on the scale and proportions of Mousa Broch, to provide a new space for cultural activities in town.
- A proposed feature film, Island Home, intended to tell the stories of Lerwick’s immigrant communities and accompanied by a large-scale musical element described as a “choir of hundreds and every kind of band and group”.
- Various other ideas spanning music, theatre and community arts that were submitted during the consultation.
Those wishing to review proposals and vote can do so via the bid’s published online portal. The commissioning panel is scheduled to meet on Monday 26 October to consider the submissions and to start developing a preferred programme for the final bid, which must be lodged by Monday 30 November.
“For me, the question running through all of this is what will be different for someone growing up in Shetland because Lerwick became town of culture. What opportunities will they have in 2038 that they don’t have today?”
The comment from Graeme Howell, chief executive of Shetland Arts and director of the Lerwick 28 bid, frames the selection process as one concerned with long-term legacy as well as immediate spectacle or activity. Howell thanked everyone who participated in the consultation and the team of community liaisons who gathered ideas from across Shetland.
Timeline, funding and next steps
With the shortlist confirmed and public engagement underway, Lerwick’s bid team faces a compressed timetable ahead of the national decision. Key dates and sums relevant to the bid are summarised below.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Community contributions | Almost 1,300 ideas and comments received |
| Public vote closes | 25 October |
| Commissioning panel meets | 26 October |
| Final bid submission | 30 November |
| Winner’s main award | £3 million for a 2028 programme |
| Runners-up awards | £250,000 each to two other shortlisted towns per category |
Officials have emphasised that the public’s preferences will be considered alongside artistic merit, delivery plans and wider strategic objectives when the panel reaches its recommendation. The bid team will balance high-profile commissions with those intended to build skills, create infrastructure and leave lasting benefit for local people.
Local implications and community expectations
For Lerwick residents, the competition is more than an opportunity for a festival year. The proposed commissions — from architectural interventions that reference Shetland’s archaeological heritage to film work reflecting contemporary community life — speak to a desire for projects that combine cultural expression with tangible local benefit.
Community groups, artists and local organisations who engaged in the consultation will be watching closely as the panel refines the programme. The bid’s stated aim of creating opportunities for future generations underlines an expectation that funding will be used to build sustained cultural capacity in Shetland rather than solely for one-off events.
As the final submission deadline approaches, Lerwick faces a late push to crystallise ideas into deliverable projects that meet national criteria while remaining rooted in local needs and identity.
