Shortlist progress and local recruitment
Grimsby has opened applications for three short‑term, paid roles to help develop its UK Town of Culture 2028 bid after being named among 15 towns shortlisted from nearly 400 entries. The posts — a Creative Lead, a Community Lead Facilitator and a Young People’s Lead Facilitator — will run from September until November and form part of the local work to shape the final submission, which must be lodged by 30 November 2026.
- Creative Lead: to design an ambitious programme of events and activities reflecting Grimsby’s identity, heritage and future ambitions.
- Community Lead Facilitator: to speak with residents across North East Lincolnshire, gather ideas and ensure public participation in the bid.
- Young People’s Lead Facilitator: to engage children and young people so their aspirations are represented in the application.
Funding and purpose
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has awarded Grimsby a development grant of £60,000 to support preparation of the full bid. More than half of that sum — £32,000 — has been allocated to the three short‑term roles. The council says the appointments will work alongside local residents, businesses, community organisations and young people to craft a cultural story for the town.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| DCMS development fund | £60,000 |
| Budget for three roles | £32,000 |
Local voices and expectations
Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes and chair of the Town of Culture sub‑group, urged local creatives, facilitators and community leaders to apply, saying the opportunity would allow people to “play a direct role in shaping a bid that reflects who we are, where we’ve come from and where we want to go”.
“This is an opportunity for local people to play a direct role in shaping a bid that reflects who we are, where we’ve come from and where we want to go.” — Melanie Onn, MP
Local gallery co‑owner Dale Wells welcomed the decision to recruit from within Grimsby, saying it was vital that residents and creatives had a say in the process. He told reporters that giving local people a voice was essential and that the town should use the bid to think ambitiously about what could be achieved collectively.
How to apply and next steps
Applications for the three freelance roles are open now and will close at 14:00 BST on 1 September 2026. The posts are contracted for the development period running to November. North East Lincolnshire Council has published further details, including role descriptions and how to apply, on its website.
If appointed, the facilitators will be expected to help establish a citizens’ panel—referred to in council materials as the GY28 Citizens’ Panel—and to ensure the final bid reflects themes and stories that matter to people who live and work in the area. The creative lead will collaborate with artists, organisations and communities to create a compelling programme that promotes Grimsby on a national stage.
The town now has until the end of November to turn the development work into a completed entry for the UK’s inaugural Town of Culture competition. Shortlisting to the final award will be competitive; being among the 15 selected towns from the near‑400 original applicants was a notable step, local officials said.
For Grimsby residents the process offers immediate benefits: paid opportunities for local practitioners, formal structures for public engagement in cultural planning, and a deadline that concentrates activity and investment into a three‑month delivery window. How widely these roles are filled by people with established local connections and how representative the engagement work proves will influence both the strength of the bid and its legacy for community cultural provision in the months and years ahead.
