People across Birkenhead are being encouraged to have their say as the town prepares its bid to become the UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028.

Birkenhead Culture Partnership has launched a public consultation, inviting residents, workers, students and visitors to share their ideas and ambitions for the town’s cultural future.

A short online questionnaire is now available, giving people the opportunity to highlight what makes Birkenhead special and suggest events, activities and projects they would like to see if the bid is successful.

Birkenhead is one of just 15 towns shortlisted for the inaugural UK Town of Culture title, having been selected from 398 applications. It is also the only town in the North West to reach this stage of the competition.

The town is competing against Basildon, Grimsby and Rotherham in the large town category, with each shortlisted destination receiving £60,000 to develop its final bid. The overall winner will secure £3 million to deliver a year-long cultural programme.

Craig Pennington, Bid Director and Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Future Yard, said:

“Birkenhead has an incredible story, but this bid isn’t about a small group of people deciding what a year of culture should look like. We want to hear from the people who live here, work here, create here and spend time here.

“What makes the town special to you? What stories should we be telling? What would you love to see happen? The bid is still developing, which is exactly why we want to hear from people now. What they tell us over the coming weeks will become an important part of what we put forward.”

Alongside the online questionnaire, residents of all ages will have the chance to contribute their ideas through specially designed postcards, where they can write or draw their vision for Birkenhead’s potential year as Town of Culture.

The postcards will be available throughout October at locations including Williamson Art Gallery, The Hive Youth Zone, Eureka!, Future Yard and Wirral libraries. They will also be distributed through schools and youth organisations to ensure younger voices are represented.

Local artists, creatives and cultural organisations will also be invited to put forward projects they would like to develop as part of the proposed programme.

Cllr Paula Basnett, Leader of Wirral Council, said:

“Birkenhead’s greatest strength has always been its people, whose creativity, commitment and community spirit shape the town every day.

“Reaching this stage of the Town of Culture competition is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on those people, places and activities, and to celebrate everything that contributes to Birkenhead’s very individual identity, making it such a distinctive and vibrant place.

“Being named the UK’s first Town of Culture would give us a national platform to tell those stories, showcase what makes Birkenhead unique and importantly to use them to create new opportunities for local people and communities. That’s why I’d encourage everyone to get involved and help shape the bid.”

Organisers hope the consultation will uncover new stories, creative talent and community initiatives that could form part of the town’s cultural celebrations.

Craig added:

“There are people doing brilliant things in every part of Birkenhead, and there will be stories and activity we haven’t discovered yet. We want to hear about those too.

“We see our Town of Culture programme bringing together our fabulous local and regional arts organisations, alongside national and internationally significant creators. This is an opportunity to tell the story of Birkenhead as it is now, as well as what we want it to become in the years ahead.”

The questionnaire takes less than five minutes to complete and will remain open until Wednesday 28 October 2026.

Anyone wishing to contribute can visit the website.