'We deserve this chance' - optimism builds for Whitby's £3m Town of Culture bid
Optimism is building for Whitby’s £3m Town of Culture bid as the town prepares to celebrate a host of major events within the next couple of years.
Clair Stones of the Captain Cook Museum is working to create the bid along with Rebecca Denniff of Flash Company Arts CIC.
And Clair said that in 2028, there were “so many things that we should be celebrating in Whitby”.
Along with the Cook 300 – a celebration of the tricentenary of the great navigator’s birth – there is the possible return of the Endeavour replica, currently berthed in Sydney, Australia, with further talks due in the coming weeks, as well as the Town of Culture bid.
The year 2028 will also see the 250th anniversary of the opening of St Ninian’s Church in Whitby, while next year will also be 125 years since Alderman Pannett bought the land which was to become Pannett Park, and left to the people of Whitby.
Clair told the Whitby Gazette: “We have got the kind of profile in Whitby that takes years to build.
"Money can’t buy something like that – we have just got it.
"We obviously think we’re strong, as will every town that enters, but our story has a lot to say for it.
"We have gone with Storyland as there are lots of stories here from over the centuries, but people have arrived in Whitby and made their own stories which have added to our history and culture.
"It’s like a platform and gives us an opportunity to showcase our heritage, from the Vikings to Dracula, fishing, building our own ships and whaling.
"We are already on the map.
"This will build on that and we have everything going for us and I do think it’s our turn to get recognition and money that will help us move forward.”
Clair said she believed that Whitby “deserves this chance” and there was a “shifting confidence” within the town that this could happen.
"People have been brought together and the community given an opportunity to give ideas for what they want for our town.
"We punch well above our weight,” she said.
Clair stressed that the Town of Culture bid was for the residents, not just the visitors and would produce a legacy programme that’s going to be embedded in the town.
She said more than 350 people had completed an online survey asking for ideas and that a drop-in session at The Royal Hotel saw more than 50 turn up to also express their opinion.
A Whitby Town of Culture consortium meeting takes place next week and from there, a big event will be organised for businesses, arts and community groups.
A shortlist follows in spring, with the winner named in early 2027.
"It’s not just Whitby, it’s the catchment area too,” added Clair.
"No-one can have the history we’ve got – this is unique!”