City MPs back the bid for City of Culture
The three Members of Parliament representing Milton Keynes have today reaffirmed their wholehearted support for the city's bid to become UK City of Culture 2029, stating that Milton Keynes is uniquely placed to deliver a transformative and inspiring year of cultural events.
Nearly 60 years after its designation as a New Town, Milton Keynes is now home to more than 300,000 people and has become one of the most diverse, innovative and fastest-growing communities in the country.
Chris Curtis MP (Milton Keynes North), Emily Darlington (Milton Keynes Central), and Callum Anderson (Buckingham and Bletchley) said the bid comes at a pivotal moment in the city's journey, as it prepares to celebrate its milestone 60th birthday next year while continuing to lead the way as one of the fastest-growing and most productive urban economies in the UK, with a total economic output valued at over £16.7 billion.
The MPs praised the thousands of local residents who have helped shape the bid through workshops, school events, community conversations and creative activities, describing it in a letter to the UK City of Culture Assessment Panel as "a bid created by Milton Keynes, not simply for Milton Keynes."
In their letter, the three MPs highlighted Milton Keynes' distinctive cultural identity and its long tradition of embracing ambition, creativity and openness. They argued that UK City of Culture status would not only celebrate the city's achievements, but also help shape its future.
With transformational opportunities on the horizon, including East West Rail, Universal Studios and the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, the MPs insisted that culture must sit at the heart of Milton Keynes' next chapter, ensuring community cohesion and wellbeing alongside economic growth.
They also emphasised the importance of the bid for young people. With more than a quarter of Milton Keynes residents aged 19 or under, Callum, Chris and Emily said UK City of Culture status could inspire the next generation of artists, creators and innovators, while opening up new pathways into the creative industries.
The MPs argued that UK City of Culture 2029 could act as a catalyst for widening participation in cultural activity, strengthening grassroots creativity, improving wellbeing and ensuring that more residents share in the city's success and future prosperity.
They said Milton Keynes has spent six decades proving what is possible when ambition, innovation and community come together, and that UK City of Culture 2029 would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate that story while writing its next chapter.
“Milton Keynes is a perfect mix of our historic towns and villages with their own proud traditions, and our New Town which has quickly blossomed into one of Britain’s leading cities, which make us a thriving cultural hotspot. The UK City of Culture provides an opportunity to show others what we already know – that Milton Keynes is better by design – and turn it inwards to benefit everybody in our city. After all, all the jokes about concrete cows can only mean one thing – our public art installations have a national reputation to be proud of.”
Chris Curtis, Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes North
“Milton Keynes has been built, and continues to grow, from the ideas of people who have chosen to make this city their home – the place they raise their family, start a business, create a charity and contribute to a local community. The UK City of Culture Bid exemplifies this; it is an opportunity for us to show off what makes us so specials from our local businesses to fantastic artists and leading innovation. We don’t just excel in one sector; it is our diversity that makes us such a special place to be.”
Emily Darlington, Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes Central
“From the pioneering legacy of Bletchley Park to the thousands who have made Milton Keynes their home, our city has always embraced new ideas and opportunities. But significant challenges around deprivation, skills and social mobility remain - particularly in Bletchley. In my view the UK City of Culture is about far more than celebration. It is an opportunity to ensure more people share in the benefits of Milton Keynes’ success.”
Callum Anderson, Member of Parliament for Buckingham and Bletchley The MPs concluded by offering their "wholehearted and unequivocal support" for Milton Keynes' bid, describing it as a unique opportunity to demonstrate how culture can strengthen communities, unlock opportunity and build lasting civic pride.
They said the bid's theme, We're Just Getting Started, perfectly captures the spirit of a city proud of what it has achieved and excited about what comes next.
