High Wycombe Town of Culture bid
High Wycombe Town of Culture bid

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The two faces of High Wycombe: Bold ‘Town of Culture’ bid launched to tackle hidden social gaps

High Wycombe has submitted its UK Town of Culture 2028 bid, trading its "wealthy commuter hub" reputation for a bold vision of a creative renaissance. 

Despite its location in one of the UK’s most affluent counties, High Wycombe was ranked as the second-worst area in the country for food insecurity (The Guardian, 2021).  

The collaborative bid, made by residents, creative groups and Buckinghamshire New University (BNU), argues the contrast of perceived wealth and lived reality has left the town “culturally overlooked” for decades. The bid lead, Dr Nela Milic is particularly excited by “the desire of the residents to place BNU at the heart of the town” and is looking forward to more public engagement by this local higher education institution. 

The proposal, submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), seeks to reframe High Wycombe’s identity. It suggests that culture is the missing "infrastructure" needed to bridge this gap, using the town’s unique history of making and its stunning natural landscape as a catalyst for social change. 

Dr Anahita Malek said: “High Wycombe is a town of incredible contradictions. We have world-class heritage and rare chalk streams, yet we face significant challenges with food poverty and youth provision. Our bid isn't about a superficial rebrand; it’s about a 'reframe.' We are showing that Wycombe is not culturally empty, but culturally under-articulated. We want to use this bid to give our residents the confidence to lead, create, and take pride in their own story." 

The heart of the bid outlines events accessible to all regardless of economic background including: 

  • The Making and Nature Festival: A flagship event celebrating the town’s "bodgering" and furniture-making roots alongside its rare environmental assets. 
  • The High Wycombe Cultural Trail: A digital and physical route linking the Brunel Engine Shed, Wycombe Museum, and the High Street. 
  • Youth-led infrastructure: Using BNU’s "civic anchor" status to provide space, skills, and pathways into the creative economy for the town's 2,000+ annual students and local youth. 

While BNU provided the administrative leadership for the submission, the bid emphasises a "bottom-up" approach. The university acted as a facilitator for local organisations, including Wycombe Arts Centre, Wycombe Wanderers, and The Eden Centre, many of whom championed the vision but lacked the capacity to lead a national application. 

Dr Nela Milic added: "Our role is to provide the 'plumbing', the coordination and resources, so that grassroots creators can shine. We want to move culture out of traditional venues and into the High Street and neighbourhood parks, making it a part of everyday life for everyone in Wycombe." 

The DCMS is expected to announce the shortlist for the 2028 title later this year.