“Small City, Big Landscape” Ripon’s UK Town of Culture 2028 bid postcard
At the heart of Ripon’s bid is the idea of “pilgrimage”
A unifying theme of journey, discovery, connection, growth, and healing – shaping a year-long, place-based cultural programme. Pilgrimage also encompasses the idea of Ripon’s close connection to its hinterland, and this bid led by the Uredale Community Partnership reflects that connection.
Local Ripon artist Antony Prince who designed the post card in record time said:
“The sound emanating from the horn symbolises sanctuary and connects Ripon, the place and people – it resonates from the horn outwards.
The cathedral and obelisk are striking symbols of sanctuary and place – home.”
Antony had a very limited time from receiving the brief to creating the image and said:
“I am pleased with how it’s come out, the mixed media look and the speed I have had to do it in has meant I have discovered a new ‘style’ ! There isn’t time to make it ‘truly’ Ripon (shop by shop/angle by angle) – this has resulted in more of an interpretation/artists impression- it ‘feels’ like Ripon – without being literal. I am sure some people might say it’s not Ripon because the shops and buildings are not perfect but that’s deliberate. The design process used all sorts of materials including my photos, paintings and watercolours.”
The postcard wording reads:
“A Call from Ripon
Ripon has a way of drawing people in. Pilgrims, poets, soldiers, families, walkers, artists, seekers. They arrive by ancient routes, through the Market Place, along the river or across the fields from Fountains Abbey. All find a small city held in each larger landscape.
Beneath the Cathedral, Wilfrid’s seventh‑century crypt still waits for the next pilgrim to find it. At nine o’clock the Hornblower sounds, keeping watch, as the tradition has since 886.
We invite you to make your own.”
The words were chosen to encapsulate Ripon’s bid in a couple of sentences but also to keep it simple and accessible to all which fits with our sanctuary theme.
