Peterlee Town of Culture 2028

Creative lead and principal writer for Peterlee’s UK Town of Culture 2028 bid, developing a shared narrative for the town’s cultural future.

Lead Writer and Creative Strategist • Complete • 2026

---

The Peterlee Town of Culture 2028 bid explored how imagination can shape the future of a real place.

Working collaboratively with artists, cultural organisations, local authorities and community partners, I led the development of the bid’s narrative framework, helping to translate a wide range of ideas into a coherent vision for Peterlee’s cultural future. Alongside writing the submission, I contributed to its creative direction, editorial structure and overall identity.

The process was as much about listening as writing.

Rather than relying on familiar narratives of post-industrial decline, the bid positioned culture as a force for renewal, participation and civic confidence. It sought to present Peterlee not simply through its history, but through its capacity for imagination and collective ambition.

Areas of contribution:

Strategic Narrative
Bid Writing
Creative Direction
Programme Development
Stakeholder Collaboration
Editorial Development

The project brought together diverse voices into a single shared proposition, balancing long-term ambition with practical delivery. It demonstrated how storytelling can support partnership working, strengthen cultural identity and help organisations communicate complex ideas with clarity.

Although the bid was not selected, the process reinforced my belief that imagination is not only a creative tool but a civic one. The same methods that underpin The Constant State and PRTV can also help communities imagine new futures for themselves.

---