Local organisations receive grant funding to bolster cultural and creative communities

We are delighted to announce the awarding of grants to ten local organisations dedicated to fostering vibrant cultural and creative communities across Central Bedfordshire! 

Grant funding awarded to ten local organisations

The grants will be used to support a diverse range of initiatives, including: 

• Community Arts Projects: Bringing people together to create and enjoy art. 
  

• Cultural Events: Celebrating our rich heritage and contemporary culture.
  

• Artistic Development Programs: Nurturing local talent and creativity. 

The programme is part-funded by us together with government grant funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and DEFRA Rural England Prosperity Fund. With this funding we are providing essential resources for these fantastic projects that will surely entertain and delight our residents and help foster a sense of pride in our communities. 

The grants, which range from £3,775 to £35,000, will help our artists and cultural organisations create inspiring work. This will attract visitors, enrich our community, and strengthen the cultural sector, providing opportunities for residents to enjoy and engage with the arts.  

£85,000 has been awarded to support the following organisations and projects: 

Creative Development Culture Grant

Grants have been awarded to three organisations to support the following projects: 

• Full House Theatre, £35,000
  ‘Creative Pathways’ – professional development sessions and support for creative practitioners working with children and young people in Central Bedfordshire, including support for individual creative projects. 

• Tangled Feet, £30,000
  'Ignite!’ – a one-year project mentoring and training creative practitioners, supporting them to develop their own creative projects. 

• Music 24, £20,000  
  Professional development for community-based music practitioners, including masterclasses and mentoring.  

Additional grant funding of £48,132 has also been made available. 

‘Pilot and Test’ Culture Grant 

Seven grants have been awarded to pilot and test innovative ideas, or ways of working with partners and creative individuals, in the community. Here is a list of the seven projects to be funded:

• Imajica Theatre CIC in partnership with Rushmere Country Park, £7,000
  Creating British Sign Language inclusive outdoor theatre in partnership with three community groups, to be showcased at Rushmere Country Park. 

• Imagination Dance CIC in partnership with Bigg Theatre, £3775 Special educational needs and disabilities inclusive dance workshops in the summer holidays.  

• Lucas Keen, with support from Tangled Feet, £7500
  Introducing New Orleans Jazz and Second Line to Dunstable in partnership with Dunstable Library and the Death café. 

• The Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth Remembrance Trust, £7430
  SENsing Shuttleworth, a partnership project with special educational needs and disabilities theatre experts Collar and Cuffs to increase accessibility of the collection including legacy work with Future Legend Media. 

• ACL Collective in partnership with Houghton Regis, Ampthill and Biggleswade libraries, £7500
  A storytelling residency including an actor, puppeteer and theatre designer bringing their magic to libraries.  

• James Junior supported by Music 24 and hosted by Central Bedfordshire College, £7500
  ‘Singability’ – practical music sessions led by a professional performer for SEND students at Central Bedfordshire College to increase soft skills and confidence. 

• The Greensand Trust with illustrator Rachel Presky, £7427
  ‘Oh deer!’ – a creative commission to engage the public in understanding the threats to the woodlands of the Greensand Country. 

We will keep let you updated on the progress of the projects which are sure to delight and excite.

We have been allocated £3.55M from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities UKSPF programme which is being delivered alongside their £1.06M allocation from DEFRA’s Rural England Prosperity Fund.