Creative figures to lead vision for Ipswich City of Culture

The local creative leaders have all been chosen as the town ramps up development of the bid, which could help transform Ipswich for the better.

Marcus Harris-Noble, Kirsty Tallent, Kath Cockshaw, and Hannah Houghton will develop the full programme as part of Ipswich’s submission to Government, which is due in August.

Hannah Houghton, Kath Cockshaw, Neil MacDonald, Amy Vaughan and Kirsty Tallent (Image: Submitted)

Each producer will lead a different strand of the bid: Mr Harris-Noble will focus on youth, Ms Tallent on communities, Ms Cockshaw on heritage and international exchange, and Ms Houghton will coordinate engagement across all three areas.

Amy Vaughan, who was recently appointed bid director for Ipswich 2029, said: "We want local creative leadership right at the centre of the bid.

"Hannah, Marcus, Kath and Kirsty know Ipswich, they know its communities and they know how to make ambitious work happen.

Marcus Harris-Noble, who will lead the young people element of the bid (Image: John Ferguson)

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"They will help us make sure this bid is built with the town, not just about it."

Mr Harris-Noble said: "I feel really honoured to be given the opportunity to support young people from Ipswich and the surrounding areas to have their voices heard loud and clear in the bid."

Ms Tallent said: "For me this is about amplifying local stories, platforming local communities and celebrating the wealth of culture we have throughout our town."

Ipswich placed onto longlist for City of Culture 2029 (Image: Lucy Taylor)

Ms Cockshaw said: "I’ve seen at first hand the power these projects have in increasing residents’ sense of pride in their place, in building and strengthening communities, and delivering longstanding legacy," she said.

Ms Houghton said: “I love this town and I love its people. Ipswich has an extraordinary amount going on - brilliant people doing brilliant things, often without the spotlight they deserve

"[winning] City of Culture is a chance to change that, and to put young people and communities in the driving seat of something genuinely exciting."

Who is Ipswich up against?

Earlier this year, Ipswich was selected for the long list of applications for the 2029 City of Culture and has until August to submit its full application.

Other towns on the longlist include Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.

If placed onto the four place shortlist, the town will be given a grant to develop the plans ahead of the winner being chosen towards the end of the year.