Fakenham has thrown its hat into the ring, joining Thetford, Great Yarmouth and a joint bid from Cromer and Sheringham.

It follows a well-attended public meeting on March 18 to gauge community interest and support for the bid.

Representatives from local businesses, the arts community, and organisations expressed keen interest to take the bid forward, with support from many to contribute to the programme.

A public meeting to gauge interest for a bid was well-attended (Image: Shop Fakenham)

The market town’s bid will lean on its 170-year printing heritage, placing the town as a contributor to storytelling.

Its bid programme will also include all aspects of storytelling through art, performance, film, books, and writing, as well as events that are accessible to all communities that make up the town.

Angela Glynn, mayor of Fakenham, said: “It was a pleasure to see so many local people attend the public meeting and show their support for Fakenham to bid for UK Town of Culture.

“Fakenham has a long history of being a working town, rooted in trade and the people that service that. 

“Our bid will highlight Fakenham’s unique identity and its contribution to the national identity. It will offer a programme that is relatable and accessible to all the people that live and work here”.

Angela Glynn, mayor of Fakenham, said the bid will highlight the town’s unique identity (Image: Shop Fakenham)

Melanie Harriss, co-founder and chair of Shop Fakenham, added: “We have had recent support from the High Streets Matter programme with funding from Norfolk County Council to enable Shop Fakenham to develop a Visit Fakenham brand and start a monthly food market.

“Fakenham Town Council have also received support from the Town Ambition Programme to produce a promotional video and a new brand for Fakenham that will be launched soon. 

“These steps, alongside a renewed sense of positivity in the town, feel like the starting blocks of a move towards Fakenham attracting more funding and recognition to showcase its unique cultural identity”.

Inspired by the success of the UK City of Culture, the new UK Town of Culture competition from the Department of Culture, Media & Sport looks to shine a spotlight on the contributions that towns make to the UK’s national story.

The winner will get £3m.