Leith residents are being invited to share their ideas to help shape the town’s bid to become the UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028.
The suburb of more than 50,000 people is one of 15 places across the nation to be shortlisted for the new competition run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The bid for the title will coincide with the 900th anniversary of the very first written record of Leith, making it a potentially historic year for the area.
To gather local input, a free public event called The Leith Imaginarium is being held at the Wee Museum of Memory in Ocean Terminal on Sunday, October 25, from 12 noon until 4pm.
The new national competition saw nearly 400 applications submitted from various locations, with Leith successfully making it through to the final 15.
The local bid team is currently in the process of developing its plans, and they are actively seeking input from the people who know the area best to decide exactly what should be included in the proposal.
The Leith Imaginarium event is open to visitors of all ages, from infants right through to the elderly, to bring their own personal stories, community priorities, and big ideas for the future of the town.
Attendees will be able to take part in a variety of hands-on activities, which include the unique chance to be the Mayor of Leith for a moment.
There will also be relaxed sofa conversations focusing on both the past and the future of the area, allowing residents to discuss their views in a comfortable setting.
Alongside this, a giant illustrated interactive map will be available where people can mark hidden gems, favourite local spots, and places that might need some extra care and attention.
The ideas gathered from the public will be used directly to inform the final bid, which is being built from the ground up by the newly formed Leith Culture Partnership.
This community-focused group has already secured the backing of more than 80 local and national organisations, as well as a number of public figures.
The partnership is chaired by Liam Sinclair, the Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre of Scotland, who was born and raised in Leith.
Susie Gray and Jenny Mungall, co-ordinators of Leith’s bid for UK Town of Culture said: “This isn’t about bringing ‘culture’ to Leith.
“It’s about celebrating what’s already here, backing the creativity and communities that make this place special, and giving Leithers a real say in what comes next.
“Whatever the result, 2028 will be a special year as Leith celebrates 900 years and looks forward to the future.
“The ideas and relationships coming out of the process of this competition belong to this place, and we want to keep building on them to preserve what makes Leith so distinctive and celebrate living in such a brilliant place.”
Leith – in the north of Edinburgh – was subsumed into Edinburgh in 1920 after decades of being considered a separate burgh. The area retains a fiercely independent spirit.
For those who are unable to attend the main weekend event, the dedicated team is hosting additional drop-in sessions across the local area to ensure everyone has a chance to be heard.
These sessions will take place at the Printworks Cafe on Constitution Street on Friday, October 16, from 9am to 11am, and at Leith Library on Monday, October 19, from 6.30pm to 8pm.
The final, comprehensive bid will be submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on November 30.
The overall winner of the inaugural UK Town of Culture competition is expected to be announced to the public by March 31, 2027.
