Hastings’ Town of Culture 2028 bid moves forward

Hastings Borough Council’s Cabinet has agreed to support Hastings’ bid to become Town of Culture 2028, recognising the significant opportunity to showcase the town’s rich creative talent and unique heritage on a national stage.

The bid will build on Hastings’ long-standing reputation as a centre for independent arts and music, as well as grassroots culture, while creating new opportunities for residents to participate in and shape cultural activities.

The bid aims to ensure that culture is accessible to all, with a focus on engaging young people, underrepresented communities and neighbourhoods that are not always recognised as cultural spaces.

The council has also previously confirmed funding for key cultural events, which form an important foundation for the bid. These include the popular Jack in the Green celebration, which attracts thousands of visitors to the town each year; Good Grief Hastings, a festival exploring love and loss through arts and community engagement; and the annual St Leonards Festival, celebrating the area’s vibrant community and arts scene.

Councillor Julia Hilton, Deputy Leader and lead for shaping places and Local Government Reorganisation, said: “This is excellent news for Hastings. Supporting the Town of Culture 2028 bid alongside Arts Hastings CIC, shows our commitment to celebrating the town’s unique cultural identity and making sure that creativity plays an important role in its future.

“Our aim is to make culture more accessible, support local people to succeed, and highlight creative activity in all parts of the town. By putting the community at the centre, we want to create a bid that truly reflects Hastings and leaves a lasting legacy.

“We are also proud to be providing funding to our grassroots festivals. These community-led support local talent and are a big part of what makes Hastings unique and will play an important role in our bid.

“The next stage of Hastings’ bid will be to submit an expression of interest to government by Tuesday 31 March 2026. The shortlisted places will then be announced in Spring 2026 and awarded a grant of £60,000 each to support the development of their full application.”

Mandy Curtis, 18 Hours, explained, “St Leonards Festival celebrates twenty years in 2026 and this would not have been possible without the support of Hastings Borough Council. From very early on the team at Hastings BC recognised the value of offering a community event in St Leonards to promote the neighbourhood and as a balance to the wonderful events that take place in Hastings. The support helps to lever funding from Arts Council England and enables high quality performances free of charge for our St Leonards community.”

Amalabandhu Chandler, Bereavement and Spiritual Support Services Lead for St Michael’s Hospice Hastings and Rother, added, "While everyone experiences grief at some point in their lives, many people face isolation and loneliness when coping with the loss of someone close to them. These feelings can have a profound impact on mental health and wellbeing.

“Through arts and creative expression, Good Grief Hastings will create welcoming spaces where people can come together to reflect, connect and talk openly about grief in accessible and supportive ways. The festival will bring people together through conversation, creativity and shared reflection, helping to normalise discussions around loss while strengthening both individual and community resilience.

“By sharing experiences and engaging in creative activities, participants can feel less alone in their grief and more supported by those around them. Over time, this approach helps foster greater compassion, stronger social connections and a more open culture around grief, supporting healthier, more resilient communities for the future."

Keith Leech, Chair, Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green, said, “We are delighted that Hastings Borough Council continues to help fund Jack in the Green. It has grown to be one of the best community events of the year, bringing together all parts of the local community regardless of age, race or gender and is internationally known attracting visitors from as far as Canada and Australia. It is the biggest traditional May Day custom of its kind in the world and is a real boost to local tourism at the beginning of the season.”