Ipswich Town backs City of Culture bid with £25k

Mark Aston, chairman and chief executive of Ipswich Town Football Club, said the club backs winners

Ipswich Town Football Club (ITFC) have backed Ipswich's bid for City of Culture.

They made the announcement at a meeting of more than a hundred people from arts and culture organisations at the New Wolsey theatre in the town.

It is now the first stage of the process, and the government is seeking Expressions of Interest from cities, towns or regions that want to bid for the status for 2029.

Mark Ashton, ITFC chairman and chief executive, confirmed the club was putting £25,000 towards the bid and said: "For the football club now to be a sponsor and formally get behind the bid, we are delighted, we are going to have a really good go at winning this thing."

A new mural on Westgate House in Ipswich, which was shaped by people from across the world

The City of Culture is a competition run by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and is awarded every four years.

There will be a £10m prize for the winner, which is expected to be announced this time next year.

The aim is to make art and culture a catalyst for regeneration, economic growth and change in the area.

Mr Aston said: "The city of culture bid is an opportunity for art and sport to come together.

"Three Ed Sheeran concerts in our stadium, 90,000 people through the doors, £200,000 into our business economy, that's an impact.

"We have a responsibility as a football club to work more with our town and community to do more. It's a very special town, a very special county, together moving as one, we can have a real good go at the bid."

Applicants aim is to raise £100,000 of sponsorship to get the first Expression of Interest submitted by January 11, 2026.

Labour MP for Ipswich, Jack Abbott, has been driving the bid along with Ipswich Borough Council and business group Ipswich Central.

Mr Abbott said it was "fantastic" ITFC was backing the bid along with other businesses in the town and that they were all putting "their money where their mouths were".

He added: "The only way we can revive the town centre is if we bring money and people into it, the city of culture will do that in spades."

The eight areas to make the long list will be announced in February 2026, and winners will then need to make a full formal bid.