Grimsby is today featured in a national digital postcard campaign led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the UK Town of Culture 2028 competition.
North East Lincolnshire Council submitted a postcard to feature in a nationwide social media campaign celebrating towns that have entered the competition. The postcards will appear on a national digital map from today (Thursday) and be added to by National Museums Liverpool. GY28 – UK Town of Culture | NELC
The Grimsby postcard features artwork by local artist Francesca Young, taken from her piece Homeward Bound.
Francesca said: “Homeward Bound’ is a watercolour and mixed media painting inspired by a love for my hometown, Grimsby. As the title suggests I wanted to imagine a skyline of the most famous landmarks as a homage to our town’s fishing heritage; these buildings would be the first thing the fishermen would see to know they are home.
“I am over the moon to know that this piece will be used to represent our town for the culture bid. My work is all about celebrating Grimsby, especially this piece, so to know that people we see it on the national map means the world.”
The message reflects Grimsby’s story, from its heritage to its future: A town on the edge – where the strongest stories begin.
From the legend of Grim, the fisherman said to have founded the town, to generations of dock workers facing the sea with courage and humour, Grimsby is built on grit, resilience and pride.
Once the world’s busiest fishing port, today Grimsby is leading the way in offshore wind and renewable energy.
At its heart, Grimsby is a place of connection, where people come together, face challenges, and turn them into opportunities.
In March 2026, the GY28 Expression of Interest in becoming Town of Culture 2028 was submitted, led by Horizon OnSide Youth Zone, working with North East Lincolnshire Council and supported by community leaders, MPs, cultural organisations, creatives and residents across the borough.
The UK Town of Culture competition awards £3-million to the winning town to deliver a year-long cultural programme, with two runners-up receiving £250,000 each.
Due to high interest from towns across the UK, the announcement of the shortlisted towns who will go through to the next stage of the competition has been delayed, and is now expected by the end of July.
Cllr Tanya Brasted, Portfolio Holder for Culture Heritage and the Visitor Economy, said: “Grimsby has a powerful story to tell, and this campaign is a fantastic opportunity to share it with the rest of the country. Our postcard captures the pride, creativity and resilience that define our town, from our rich heritage to our exciting future in renewable energy and culture.
“We are incredibly proud of the partnership behind our Town of Culture bid and the passion shown by our communities. I’d encourage everyone to get behind #GY28 and help us show why Grimsby deserves to be recognised on the national stage.”
You can still support the bid by sharing why Grimsby should win and using #GY28 on social media.
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