REDRUTH has announced its official bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028, led by a partnership between Redruth Town Council, Redruth Cultural Consortium and arts organisation The Ladder.

If successful, Redruth would host a £3.5m programme of cultural activity in spring/summer 2028, showcasing local talent while attracting national attention, investment and visitors.

Those behind the bid say it celebrates “Redruth’s rich heritage, creative energy and strong community spirit, positioning culture as a driver for pride, opportunity, and long-term regeneration”. With the drive for recognition of the Cornish language’s unique status in full flow, it is argued Cornish culture is top of the agenda in Parliament.

Once the centre of Cornwall’s industrial heartland, Redruth has a population of 15,626. The wider area is home to 42,690 people, making it the most populous area in Cornwall.

A bid spokesperson said: “We want the UK to hear our rich and complex story and why our town has national significance.

“Redruth may be a small town, but it has big ambitions. Once known as the richest square mile in the UK, it is now among the most deprived. The closure of the mines and the town’s brewery in the 1990s marked a period of significant change.

“Today, arts, culture, heritage and creativity are driving a renaissance of the town, with the opening of Kresen Kernow, Krowji, The Buttermarket and The Ladder,.

“Redruth punches well above its weight. It’s home to the largest artist studio complex west of Bristol, the third-largest hub for digital businesses in the UK, and the UK’s largest heritage archive project.

“The town also boasts a beautiful cinema and theatre, Cornwall’s largest creative employer and half of Cornwall’s Arts Council national portfolio organisations. Artists are drawn to Redruth as the most affordable place in Cornwall to live and work.”

Redruth hosts the Lowender Festival, which celebrates Cornish culture and will mark its 50th anniversary in 2028; and events including the International Mining and Pasty Festival and Murdoch Day, celebrating the Cornish culture of food, mining and innovation.

“This bid is about confidence, creativity and community,” said mayor Cllr Alison Biscoe. “Redruth has an extraordinary story to tell and becoming UK Town of Culture 2028 would give us the platform to celebrate who we are, where we’ve come from and where we’re going.”

Felix Mortimer from Redruth Cultural Consortium - a network of local artists, organisations and community groups - added: “Redruth’s culture lives in its people, music, stories, skills and shared spaces. This bid is about amplifying those voices and creating opportunities for everyone to take part in shaping a vibrant cultural future.”

Joshua Nawras from creative organisation The Ladder said: “We believe culture can be transformative when genuinely led by local communities. This is an opportunity to invest in Redruth’s creativity, nurture local talent and build lasting impact well beyond 2028.”

Community involvement will be central to the bid, with residents, schools, businesses and community groups invited to contribute ideas, shape the programme and take part in events.