Culture Burnley
Photo credit: Tom Lally.
Why Not Burnley?
Culture shapes who we are as individuals and how we define our place in the world – our sense of belonging to a place or group of people. It is a powerful tool that can unite, inspire, educate, and transform lives.
To help us to better celebrate and connect the great things that are already happening, and to grow and deliver more over the next few years, we are developing plans for Burnley 2027 Year of Culture.
Between now and 2027 we are building partnerships, cultural initiatives, events, and projects that breathe new life into our venues, streets, parks, and public spaces across the borough.
We are:
- Involving more people from the local community in planning and shaping the activities that are delivered through forming a community panel and running a Culture Makers project to create community cultural ambassadors.
- Working more closely with schools and youth organisations through the Local Cultural Education Partnership to create more opportunities for young people.
- Working with partner organisations to better coordinate, promote and plan what is happening across the borough.
- Working with individuals and organisations to deliver more, and bigger events.
- Upskilling and employing more people.
- Ensuring that we are better responding to diverse needs and interests to allow more local people to take part.
- Raising funds to invest in our cultural buildings, organisations, creative individuals and grass roots community programmes.
Burnley has world class cultural assets and a wealth of local talent that deserves to be showcased. 2027 will be an opportunity to celebrate local pride in our cultural heritage and to also look to the future of what Burnley can offer to residents and visitors as a vibrant destination.
Our collective ambition for 2027 is to create projects that involve, engage and inspire local people, creating new public art, theatre, film, music, literature, digital and more. It will be the start of a new chapter for Burnley, creating a legacy of projects and programmes that take us into an exciting future.
Burnley is getting ready for its Year of Culture in 2027 – are you?
If you would like to be part of the conversation then register your interest here or get in touch with csteels@blcgroup.co.uk and follow our @CultureBurnley Facebook Page
Find out more by viewing the Cultural Framework using the link below and access films that are documenting our activity on our YouTube channel at @CultureBurnley
Cultural FrameworkSupport Burnley 2027
Feeling inspired? If you want to find out more about how you or your business can support Year of Culture, download our Corporate Sponsorship Pack for details.
Burnley 2027 Corporate Sponsorship Pack
Why Not Burnley? showcases Burnley’s ambition towards Burnley 2027 and was supported by local businesses, community members and young people:
An introduction to Burnley 2027 and Burnley’s Cultural Ambassadors:
Filmed at the 2024 Culture Burnley Awards, hear more from Burnley’s Cultural Ambassadors as we move towards 2027:
Cultural Capital Exchange Symposium
Download the delegate pack: Cultural Capital Exchange Symposium Pack
The Cultural Capital Exchange Symposium, held on Friday 31 October 2025 at Victoria Mill, marked a defining moment in shaping the development of Burnley 2027 Year of Culture.
Curated by Creative Lancashire in association with Burnley Leisure and Culture and the University of Lancashire (Burnley Campus), the event was hosted by broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake. Bringing together leading voices from the creative, public, and cultural sectors, the symposium explored lessons from Bradford 2025, Leeds 2023, and Hull 2017, examining how culture can be a catalyst for regeneration, pride, and investment.
The day began with delegates being called to the main auditorium by Hussnain Hanif, an award-winning Nasheed musician in the Sufi devotional tradition, accompanied by Daniel Bath on harmonium. This was followed by an inspiring welcome from Amanda Parker, HM Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, and Pete Massey of Arts Council England, setting the tone for a dynamic programme of discussions, workshops, and exhibitions. Highlights included conversations with Burnley artist Aitor Throup, whose world-class “From the Moor” 22-year retrospective exhibition formed part of the 2025 British Textile Biennial, and Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director, Bradford UK City of Culture 2025, who discussed how creativity and identity can drive transformation on a national stage.
Breakout sessions such as Culture in Context, Culture – What Is It Good For?, and Culture Clash brought together cultural leaders, young creatives, and sector experts to co-create ideas that will help shape the Year of Culture’s legacy. The closing panel, Culture in Place, captured the collective energy of the day, emphasising collaboration, inclusion, and ambition as the guiding principles for Burnley’s cultural future.
Ed Matthews-Gentle, Strategic Lead, Creative Lancashire (Lancashire County Council), said:
“We’re grateful to all the speakers, supporters and participants for their contributions towards making the day a huge success. It was also important as a place of convening for the sector in Lancashire and as place to discuss the important issues for the sector. An event such as this is hugely key in setting the tone not only for Burnley’s ambition for 2027 but also for supporting Lancashire’s wider cultural vision over the next decade.”
Charlotte Steels, Head of Culture at Burnley Leisure & Culture, added:
“We’re asking ‘Why Not Burnley?’ to challenge perceptions and build local pride. The Cultural Capital Exchange Symposium has been a significant step in proving what we can achieve. Through the catalyst of cultural development, we can create a new story for the borough, one that redefines it as a place of opportunity. There’s a growing movement of cultural collaboration, and we’re excited to see where this journey takes Burnley, not just in 2027, but in the years beyond.”
With bold ideas, new partnerships, and a shared sense of purpose, the Cultural Capital Exchange has firmly set the course for Burnley 2027 — a celebration of culture that promises to reimagine the borough’s identity and its place in the world.
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