Hitchin has officially entered the race to become the UK Town of Culture 2028, with organisers hoping the town's rich heritage, thriving arts scene and strong community spirit can earn it national recognition.

The winning town in each category will receive £3 million to deliver a six-month programme of cultural events in 2028. Two runners-up will each be awarded £250,000 to bring parts of their bid to life.

Awards will be made across three categories based on population size: small towns (under 20,000 residents), medium towns (20,000 to 75,000 residents) and large towns (more than 75,000 residents). Hitchin is expected to compete in the medium town category.

The town's submission to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) takes the form of a digital postcard celebrating Hitchin's culture and identity. The image features a locally written poem by P – The Poet, framed by flowers in the heart of the town, reflecting what organisers describe as a place where "creativity belongs to everyone".

The entry can now be viewed alongside submissions from towns across the UK on the official UK Town of Culture Digital Map.

Danny Pearson, Hitchin Town Centre Manager, said: "We have officially entered the competition to become the UK Town of Culture 2028. In celebration of our town's culture and heritage, we have submitted a digital postcard to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

"You can now view our entry alongside others from across the country on the official UK Town of Culture Digital Map on the DCMS website. We are extremely excited to be involved and to give Hitchin the platform and recognition we know it deserves."

If selected to progress, Hitchin's proposed programme would celebrate the town through a series of cultural activities centred around four themes:

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• Heritage and history – celebrating Hitchin's past through storytelling, museums and historical re-enactments.
• Creativity and artistic talent – showcasing the musicians, artists and designers who live and work in the town.
• Community and collaboration – highlighting the work of local groups, organisations and volunteers.
• Diversity and inclusion – recognising organisations such as the Minority Ethnic Forum and community events including Hitchin Pride.

Organisers say a successful bid would shine a spotlight on Hitchin's independent cultural venues, artists, performers and volunteers while encouraging more people to get involved in the town's cultural life.

The initiative is also intended to boost civic pride and help attract more visitors by celebrating the town's distinctive character.

Although entrants had expected to hear whether they had reached the next stage by the end of spring, no announcement has yet been made by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

For now, Hitchin's supporters will have to wait to discover whether the town's bid has done enough to secure a place in the next round of the competition.