Pasties, Fred Dibnah, Peter Kay − Bolton has produced some of the most well-known people, foods and objects around, and now the town has officially been named as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2024! It will see the borough handed £50,000 to support a year long programme of events, activities and improvements to cultural institutions.
The Town of Culture accolade is handed out every year to different borough’s across the region and celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage. Bury took the crown in 2020 and held the title during 2021 throughout the COVID 19 pandemic, curating and delivering a hybrid programme of live and virtual events, including the Happy Festival and the two-week Burrs Live Festival.
Stockport then took the crown in 2023, the reign of which is coming to an end with the community festival, passing over the baton to fellow Greater Manchester powerhouse, Bolton.
Leader of Bolton Council Cllr Nick Peel said: “I’m thrilled that we can announce Bolton as the Town of Culture for 2024 […] Not only do we have some remarkable cultural venues, but these are strengthened by our fantastic major events programme including Bolton Food and Drink Festival, IRONMAN, Bolton Film Festival and Put Big Light On.
“Bolton certainly has a promising future and will be a great place to live, work, study, visit and invest.”
Bolton’s Town of Culture programme will have three parts. The first is a packed taster programme of cultural activities delivered in Bolton and its various districts, then a small grants programme designed to help support Bolton’s smaller cultural organisations, freelancers and artists. This will result in programmes of activity and commissioning of new works with audiences throughout the next 12 months.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “It’s fantastic that Bolton has been announced as the latest Greater Manchester town of culture […] Bolton already has some outstanding cultural venues and events from the Octagon Theatre and the Bolton Albert Hall to the famous Bolton Food and Drink Festival and the Bolton Film Festival.
“Town of Culture will celebrate these existing venues and events but will also shine a light on the smaller venues and events that are happening across the town […] I look forward to visiting Bolton to join their cultural celebrations.”
Bolton was recently given the nickname ‘Hollywood of the North‘, having been used constantly for filming TV shows and films over the past few years. Whether it’s Ewan McGregor in A Gentleman in Moscow, the cast of Red Rose, or even Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders, the stars walk the Bolton streets like it’s their home, which we’re happy to oblige.
Chief executive of Octagon Theatre, Roddy Gauld, said: “We are so fortunate that Bolton has an incredibly rich culture of people who create a place that is full of life, comedy, character and colour.
“Culture has the power to bring people together, create meaning and inspire ideas and aspirations. “The Octagon exists to do those things by telling stories, entertaining people, and creating opportunities for people to take part and express themselves […] Through the town of culture, we hope we can further raise awareness of the power of culture and celebrate Bolton’s rich cultural offering.”
Here’s to Bolton, and the next year of promising funding as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture!