Help to map the future of Kirkcaldy as ‘UK Town of Culture’
The Lang Toun Partners, a group of Kirkcaldy-based organisations including Greener Kirkcaldy, are submitting an expression of interest to bid for UK Town of Culture 2028.
Expressions of interest must be submitted by 31 March 2026. Towns shortlisted to progress to the next stage of the competition will each receive £60,000 to support the development of a full application.
One town will ultimately be named UK Town of Culture 2028. The winning town will be awarded £3 million, while two other finalists will each receive £250,000.
A key part of the initial submission is to articulate the story of the town – reflecting its past, present and future, and setting out a vision for the years ahead.
Over the next few weeks the Lang Toun Partners are hosting a series of workshops to gather the views and ideas of local people. These community conversations will help shape the town’s expression of interest.
People are invited to drop-in and join artist Gail Cadogan’s paper-making workshop this Saturday 28 February from 11am – 3pm at the Every One Every Day space in the Mercat Shopping Centre. People will make their own paper on which to capture the past, present and future stories of Kirkcaldy.
Vanessa Gibson will be at Greener Kirkcaldy on Wednesday 11th March from 6pm – 8pm inviting people to use drawing, collage and writing to collaborate on creating the pages of a community artist’s book responding to the themes.
Stellar Quines Theatre Company will be running performance workshops at Fife College and the Linton Lane Centre Youth Club working with children and young people to explore their experiences of the town and ideas for the future.
The themes and ideas that are gathered together at all four workshops will be included in the submission. As the redevelopment of Kirkcaldy picks up pace, the Lang Toun Partners will continue to bring people together to explore opportunities to encourage investment and civic pride in the town.
Lauren Brook from Greener Kirkcaldy said: “The Lang Toun Partners know that Kirkcaldy has a powerful story to tell. We want local people to help us define and share that story, ensuring it reflects the creativity, heritage and ambition of the town today and into the future.”
Andrew Walker, Project Manager, Place and Tourism Kirkcaldy at Fife Council said: “Entering this competition could bring real benefits to Kirkcaldy. If we are shortlisted, the £60,000 award would allow the Lang Toun Partners, the council, and the community to work together to create a strong cultural vision for the town.
“Kirkcaldy already has excellent cultural venues and organisations, and this process would help us build on what we have, strengthen our offer, and attract more visitors.”
The Lang Toun Partners are a group of cultural, creative, heritage, academic, third sector and local authority bodies. The group includes Greener Kirkcaldy, Adam Smith Global Foundation, Love Oor Lang Toun, The Kings, Linton Lane Centre, Every One Every Day Project, K107FM, Stellar Quines, Growing Kirkcaldy, Kirkcaldy Civic Society, Kirkcaldy Makes Music, Kirkcaldy Galleries, Adam Smith Theatre and Fife College. They are working together to make things happen in Kirkcaldy for the benefit and wellbeing of local people and to encourage investment and civic pride in the town.