A Jarrow school pupil’s colourful vision of his “dream day” in the town is helping to put Jarrow on the national map as part of its bid to become the first ever UK Town of Culture 2028.
Jarrow is one of 400 towns to enter the UK Town of Culture competition, which has been launched by the UK Government to shine a spotlight on towns and their contribution to national life.
The town has officially submitted a digital postcard to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the nationwide celebration of towns bidding for the title.
The postcard showcases artwork created by Jack, a Year 8 pupil at Jarrow School, whose imagined town mascot, Jarrow Gregg, is pictured enjoying a perfect day out in Jarrow with Jack’s cat, Pesto.
The artwork was created during community consultation, which invited young people to imagine, create and share what would celebrate Jarrow’s story, identity and future.
Five hundred young people made models, drew, painted, wrote or talked about what would celebrate Jarrow’s 1,300 years of changing the world through invention, writing, music, art and creativity.
Jack said he had “the best day of my life” when his class was asked to imagine their dream town, adding: “I did my crazy drawings of Gregg and my cat Pesto having a great time. When I saw Gregg in huge posters at the museum, it was awesome. I feel famous!”
Now, Jack’s Jarrow Gregg is flying the flag for Jarrow UK Town of Culture 2028, appearing alongside postcards from towns across the country in a digital display in the Museum of Liverpool to celebrate the diversity of each and every town that has participated in the competition. After the display, the postcards will remain within the National Museums Liverpool’s national collection in recognition of the importance that this moment represents for the UK.
Susan Wear, Chair of Jarrow Forward Neighbourhood Board, said: “Jack’s artwork captures what Jarrow’s bid is all about: pride, imagination, community and a future shaped by our young people. Jarrow has an extraordinary story to tell, from Bede and our Anglo-Saxon heritage to our history of creativity, invention, industry, music, writing and social change. But this bid is not just about looking back. It is about giving our young people the confidence and opportunity to imagine what Jarrow can become next.
“Jarrow is a fantastic place to represent the whole of the North East. It has a history and heritage of national and international significance, but it is also perfectly located, with transport links across the North East and into northern Europe. This is a town with deep roots, strong connections and huge ambition for the future.”
Paul Atkinson, Head of Jarrow School, said: “To see Jack’s dream day in Jarrow celebrated nationally is very special. His postcard is joyful, bold and full of personality, just like the town itself. We are incredibly proud of Jack and all of the young people who have helped shape this bid by sharing their imagination, creativity and pride in Jarrow.
“We hope people across Jarrow, South Tyneside and the wider North East will get behind the bid, share the postcard and help us show the country why Jarrow deserves to be UK Town of Culture 2028.”
Jarrow Forward, the town’s Neighbourhood Board, is working with South Tyneside Council and partners across the town and region to build a bid that reflects Jarrow’s heritage, creativity, community strength and cultural ambition.
The bid is backed by the 25 organisations and individuals that make up the Jarrow Forward Neighbourhood Board, as well as a further 120 community partners from across the town and wider area.
The winning town will receive funding to deliver a cultural programme in 2028, with finalists also receiving support to take forward elements of their bids.
Residents, schools, community groups, businesses and partners are invited to get behind Jarrow’s bid by visiting the campaign webpage, downloading assets and sharing their support across their networks.
Support Jarrow’s UK Town of Culture 2028 bid and download campaign assets at Our Conversation: Jarrow Town of Culture.
View Jarrow’s digital postcard on google maps at Jarrow Postcard.
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