Could Oakham become UK Town of Culture?

By Grace Kennington 15th Jan 2026

Local News by Grace Kennington 15th Jan 2026

Does Oakham have what it takes to become UK Town of Culture? (Photo: Grace Kennington)

The government has announced the launch of the UK Town of Culture competition, a smaller counterpart to the City of Culture celebrating towns of all sizes.

Of all the towns that enter, an independent panel will select three finalists - one small town, one medium town and one big town.

Then, one town will be selected as the overall winner, being awarded £3 million of funding to fund the bid they will submit as part of the selection process.

The two runner-ups will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements from their bid.

Applications for the UK Town of Culture will be judged on three main criteria:

The unique story of the town,
how the town will design a cultural programme for all,
how the town will then deliver a successful programme if it wins.

Oakham's rural setting, historic connections and strong sense of community could make it a strong contender for the award.

Oakham also is home to a lot of community events, with the castle and museum holding regular exhibitions and heritage events alongside Oakham Pride and May Day.

There is also popular food festivals, markets and, of course, Rutland Morris.

However, shaky relations within Oakham Town Council and between the town council and residents, it has not yet been announced whether they will be entering Oakham into the Town of Culture award.

Applications have opened and towns have until 31 March 2026 for Expressions of Interest.

Do you think Oakham has what it takes to be named Town of Culture? Let us know in the comments below!

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Comments (6)

This discussion is now closed for comments.

Seriously? Oakham strikes me as a pretty rather elitist sort of town. All the musical activity appears to be linked to the school, and is hardly cheap. There’s no theatre and really no cinema. I know the Victoria Hall tries occasionally. The good news is the library and the museum. Well, good luck!

What a great article and opportunity, OTC are on it and will keep the town updated on progress. Paul Ainsley OTC Councillor

It is certainly frustrating to hear about such a significant opportunity via the press rather than through the official channels that were reportedly initiated in October 2025. Given that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) opened the process on Monday, 14 January 2026, the 31 March 2026 deadline leaves Oakham with a very tight 11-week window to coordinate.
A working group would need to hit the ground running, here is a breakdown of what the "Expression of Interest" (EOI) stage requires.
The EOI is not just a letter of intent; it is a structured document that requires specific evidence across three main pillars. The working group must complete the following before the March deadline

1. Define "Your Story"
They must articulate a unique narrative for Oakham. This isn't just history; it's about:
Identity: What makes Oakham’s culture and heritage distinct?
Contribution: How does the town's story link to the wider national narrative?
Vision: A clear statement on how you will use culture to bring the community together.

2. Design "Culture for Everyone"
The panel wants to see that the programme won't just be for traditional arts audiences. the working group must outline:
Inclusivity: How the programme will reach underserved groups and all age ranges.
Accessibility: Specific plans to ensure events are physically and socially accessible.
Boost: How the plan will raise the town's profile and foster local pride.

3. Demonstrate "Making it Happen"
This is the operational core. the working group would need to show:
Partnerships: Proof of collaboration between the Town Council, community organisations, grassroots artists, and local businesses.
Capacity: Evidence that the group has the "capability and effective processes" to manage a large-scale programme.
Financial Realism: A high-level, viable budget and a plan to attract further funding beyond the prize money.

Crucial Steps for the Working Group (Jan–March)
Since the group must involve community membership, their ASAP timeline should ideally look like this:

Public Consultation: The EOI specifically asks to what extent you have already consulted residents and businesses. they will need to document these conversations immediately.
Forming the Partnership: The bid must technically come from a "local partnership." they will need formal letters of support or "in-principle" agreements from key local organisations.
Drafting the EOI Statement: Each section usually has a word limit (often around 400 words per prompt). Every word must count toward proving you meet the DCMS criteria.

If Oakham is shortlisted, the town will receive £60,000 in development funding to help write the full bid. This would take the pressure off the Town Council's own budget for the next phase. It is a huge project to undertake at such short notice. Cllr Martin Brookes, Oakham South Ward.

Needs tyo tidy up the town centre a bit. Good points, it has 2 choral societies based here, and also a thriving Youth Choir covering school years 1 to 13.

Oakham is an attractive country town and would appear to meet the criteria. More could be done and a little effort now by the town council could bring a good reward to make Oakham even better.