Redruth is a former industrial town in Cornwall with a population of 15,626. Including the surrounding mining villages, the wider area is home to 42,690 people, making it the most populous area in Cornwall.

Redruth is a small town with big ambitions. Once known as the richest square mile in the UK, it is now among the most deprived. The closure of the mines and the town’s brewery in the 1990s marked a period of significant change. Today, with the opening of Kresen Kernow, Krowji, The Buttermarket and The Ladder arts, culture, heritage and creativity are driving a renaissance of the town.

Redruth punches well above its weight. It is home to the largest artist studio complex west of Bristol, the third-largest hub for digital businesses in the UK, and the UK’s largest heritage archive project. The town also boasts a beautiful cinema and theatre, Cornwall’s largest creative employer, and is home to half of Cornwall’s Arts Council National Portfolio Organisations. Artists are drawn to Redruth as the most affordable place in Cornwall to live and work.

Redruth is one of the areas in Cornwall where the strongest sense of Cornish identity remains. We are bidding for UK Town of Culture because Redruth has a vital role to play in telling the rich and complex story of our country — one that many people have yet to hear.

Redruth for Town of Culture 2028

We submit our application in March 2026 and wait to hear if we are shortlisted. Thank you for your support in the campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The UK Town of Culture competition will be targeted at small and medium sized towns, enabling them to tell their unique story and shining a spotlight on the important role that towns play in our national life. 

    It has been confirmed today that the winning town will be awarded £3.5 million to help them deliver a cultural programme during the summer of 2028, harnessing what makes their town special.

  • Redruth has fast gained a reputation as “challenging the pre-eminence of nearby St Ives for the title of Cornwall’s artistic capital.” not our words but The Guardian’s.

    We believe in our small town and the unique place it has in this history of Cornwall and the United Kingdom; pagan giants and the birthplace of the industrial revolution and beyond.

  • If successful, Redruth would host a year of cultural activity shaped by local people. This could include festivals, performances, exhibitions, skills programmes, and community projects, alongside investment in local venues, artists, and businesses — leaving a lasting legacy beyond the title year.

  • Community involvement is central to the bid. Residents, artists, schools, community groups, and businesses are being invited to share ideas, shape the programme, and take part in events. The aim is a bid for Redruth, by Redruth.

  • You can support the bid by sharing ideas, attending consultation events, volunteering, or spreading the word. Opportunities to get involved will be shared through local channels and community networks as the bid progresses.

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