Leader of Blackpool Council to join our 'Cultural Cities' forum this May

Image: courtesy of Blackpool Council

Future Cities Forum is delighted that the Leader of Blackpool Council and Cabinet Member for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Cllr Lynn Williams will be speaking at our 'Cultural cities' discussion event, hosted at the Tower of London, this May, with the V&A and the Palace of Versailles.

Cllr Lynn Williams is the Leader of Blackpool Labour Group and honoured to be the first female Leader of Blackpool Council.  She currently holds the portfolio for Tourism, Arts and Culture, having previously held the roles of Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member and Statutory Leader Member for Children’s Services, Portfolio holder of Adults and Health and Chair of both BHC and BCH Boards. 

Recently, Lynn attended the inaugural programme of the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative as one of 30 European Mayors and Leaders from 17 different countries.  This initiative will empower Local Governments with the skills and tools to achieve better outcomes.

Lynn was awarded an MBE in 2024 for services to Local Government.

As the BBC reports Blackpool has made the long list of places that could become UK City of Culture 2029 - despite not being a city:

'The resort took advantage of Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) encouragement for larger towns to bid.

The council, working with the Arts Council England, submitted an Expression of Interest earlier this year, and has now been invited to submit a larger bid. As the 45th largest place in the UK, with a population of 141,500 and a visitor economy valued at £2bn, Blackpool meets the DCMS bidding criteria to be Town of Culture 2028 and City of Culture 2029.'

Cllr Williams says:

'Blackpool is bursting with culture and variety. We’ve just celebrated a week-long festival of circus and magic and are looking forward to welcoming the works of both Claude Monet and William Shakespeare in March - all of which is complemented by our year-round celebration of the art and culture of today and tomorrow.

Our diverse culture and entertainment offer means Blackpool has something for everybody, from all age groups and backgrounds. Being named as the City of Culture 2029 would showcase the talent and creativity that we already have on our doorstep, making all our residents proud of our bold, vibrant and cultural town.

To top it all off, 2029 would mark the 150th anniversary of one of Britain’s first and most loved mass arts displays – the Blackpool Illuminations.'

The Lights were the main reason for visiting amongst 40% of visitors to Blackpool during their 18-week run, a survey has found.

Now new estimates suggest these visits generated £300m value for the local economy.

For seven-in-ten survey respondents – both residents and visitors – the Illuminations were their springboard for visiting and spending with other attractions and venues across the town too.

Amongst visitors, 58% spent £100 or more on food, drink and entertainment as part of their visit, including one-third who spent £200 or more on their visit. And of the two-thirds who also stayed over, groups spent an average of £400 per visit.

Similarly, 69% of residents went on to eat out and 52% visited other attractions while enjoying the Illuminations.

Millions of visitors enjoy the Lights every year, taking in the festoons running for six miles along the promenade, the tableaux at Bispham seafront, and large-scale, interactive displays. 

Almost all survey respondents – 99% of visitors and 95% of residents – agree the Illuminations are an important part of Blackpool’s identity.

Findings in a report to Blackpool Council’s Tourism, Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee conservatively estimate the Illuminations add around £300m to Blackpool’s economy each year. 

In 2024/25, Blackpool Council invested just over £1.7m in the development, delivery and staffing of the Illuminations – generating approximately £200 spend for every £1 invested, the report said.

The V&A has worked with Blackpool Council on 'Showtown', a new museum opened some years ago, which was a collaboration between researchers, museum designers Casson Mann, and curators, co-designed with the people and performers of Blackpool. The V&A worked to make its collections accessible to audiences in and around Blackpool as well as skills sharing, building on opportunities for staff development and skills both in the development and operational phase of the new museum. The V&A advised on Gallery interpretation, graphics and image licensing, public programme and forging new networks with Showtown across theatre and performance.

The Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund has supported Showtown to acquire Peter Kay’s famous purple suit worn by the comedian in the video for the 2005 Comic Relief single ‘(Is this the way to) Amarillo’ and the late Sir Norman Wisdom’s ‘Gump’ suit. Showtown is part of a wider regeneration programme for Blackpool which has seen investment in infrastructure, accommodation and other improvements in the town. It has offered a brand new visitor experience and provide jobs and a significant boost to tourist numbers and economic growth.

Image: courtesy of Blackpool Council.