‘Investing in culture builds confidence in communities’

When it comes to building communities, culture is not a nice-to-have, or an optional extra to be tacked on to urban infrastructure whenever budgets allow; it is fundamental to social health and civic identity, and must be central to Labour’s ambitions for new towns and urban regeneration.

Culture is what brings communities together and cultivates a shared sense of belonging. It is an engine of social growth, the means through which barriers can be broken down and outdated perceptions can be challenged. Cultural identity is what puts cities on the map, attracting investment, supporting jobs and creating opportunities. It gives people confidence in where they live and optimism about the future – something that many places in the UK urgently need right now.

Milton Keynes’ bid for UK City of Culture 2029 is a powerful example of what this looks like in action. The submission requirements for the bid are thorough and wide-ranging, and the process has encouraged us to see our city with fresh eyes.

Last week we celebrated the news that Milton Keynes has been named one of the four cities on the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2029. The city is, of course, delighted – Milton Keynes has rediscovered the creativity, ambition and optimism that make our city special. Our cultural programme around the bid has awakened a sense of momentum and drive that rings true to our campaign motto: ‘we’re just getting started.’

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More than 2,500 residents have helped shape our bid through 173 workshops, events and conversations. It has been inspiring to see people come together to share and celebrate the creativity, joyful eccentricity and inventive optimism that have always defined Milton Keynes and, together, to develop an understanding of the possibilities that exist for our city. That is why we have committed to championing our creative industries and working alongside local leaders to bring about a better, brighter and culturally richer future.

As Labour embarks on the next generation of New Town development and urban renewal, we must think beyond bricks and mortar to the institutions and activities that create pride, belonging and hope. The Government’s New Towns Programme recognises the importance of community engagement from the outset. Our £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere investment and Creative Industries Sector Plan will ensure that the UK is the number-one destination worldwide for investment in creativity and innovation, and aims to significantly increase investment by 2035. Milton Keynes is already showing what investment can mean in practice, with plans for a new £76 million, 4,000-capacity cultural venue well underway.

Labour’s approach to culture goes beyond funding individual organisations; it recognises the role that culture plays in shaping local identity, strengthening communities and driving regeneration. It understands that when the parts are strong, the whole is stronger – and that the route to a more confident and united Britain starts on the streets of individual cities and towns. This reflects the ideas championed by the Prime Minister in Manchester: the belief that culture, creativity, sport, heritage and civic pride are integral to the success of a place.

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Since taking office, Labour has backed this belief with significant investment in museums, libraries, arts organisations and creative industries, while also placing culture at the heart of wider efforts to restore pride in place and revive town centres and high streets. More than £270 million has been announced for cultural and heritage organisations, alongside dedicated support for creative businesses, grassroots music venues and regional creative clusters.

People feel pride in where they live when they can see their community’s story being told, when historic buildings are brought back into use, when local artists and creatives are supported, and when cultural institutions are visibly thriving.

That is why Labour’s support for culture must be at the core of its mission to restore pride in place. Whether through investment in creative industries, support for local museums and libraries, or the renewal of town centres, the goal is the same: helping communities rediscover confidence in themselves and ensuring that every town and city has the tools to imagine and build a stronger future. 

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