Thousands have their say as part of Milton Keynes UK City of Culture bid
Thousands of people have shared their views on what Milton Keynes means to them as part of the city’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029.
As part of the bid, which is due to be submitted to the judges next month, 2,593 people have shared feedback.
Milton Keynes City Council said ideas, stories and aspirations were shared during 173 workshops, pop-up and drop-in sessions, school events and interviews.
An online survey was made available, while conversations even happened during a drum and bass bike ride through the city.
Milton Keynes was announced in March among nine long-listed bidding cities, and since then residents have shared their views and stories and contributed to a Book of Ideas which toured neighbourhoods, spaces and events around the city.
Among the views shared about what the City of Culture bid should look like were ‘focus on young people to help them experience and create culture’, ‘go outside traditional arts into food, sport and other areas to reflect how people experience culture in their everyday lives’, and ‘secure investment for local artists, grassroots organisations and emerging creatives to generate more home-grown culture within the city.’
We’re Just Getting Started has been chosen as the theme for Milton Keynes bid, and the city council says the title demonstrates “we are a young city with aspirations and enormous potential to grow and celebrate our own creative talent.”
The current UK City of Culture (holding the 2025 title) is Bradford in Yorkshire, which has generated 7,000 new jobs since being awarded the title, and now boasts a new performance venue.
Council leader Jane Carr said: “The response from people across Milton Keynes has been incredible.
“More than 2,500 people have taken the time to share their ideas and ambitions for our city.
“Their contributions are helping to shape a bid that truly reflects the creativity, diversity and pioneering spirit that makes Milton Keynes unique.
“It’s brilliant to see so much enthusiasm for what we can all achieve together, and we really want this to continue.”
Milton Keynes is one of nine candidates on the longlist for the title, alongside Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.
Milton Keynes will find out if it reaches the next phase, and becomes one of four shortlisted cities, later in the year.
The winner of the title is set to be announced in early 2027.
Last week the Citizen officially backed Milton Keynes bid for the title.