Creativity and culture at the heart of Coronation celebrations

Since we were granted our first Royal Charter back in 1946 the Arts Council has helped the nation come together for special moments in our royal history. That began with the events commissioned to mark the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and was followed sixteen years later by those for the Investiture of the now King Charles III as Prince of Wales.

The arts were woven into the very fabric of the celebrations for the late Queen’s Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilees. And it is only right that creative individuals and cultural organisations are again playing their part in the King’s Coronation.

His Majesty King Charles and Her Majesty Queen Camilla have both been patrons of several arts, museums and library organisations and have often spoken of the benefits and opportunities that creativity and culture can bring to people’s lives, recognising the wealth of artistic talent we have in our country.

At Arts Council England, we are supporting a whole range of creative and cultural activities throughout the Coronation celebrations. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are funding the Coronation Bandstand Project. This will involve thousands of young musicians performing all styles of music in parks and other public spaces from Cornwall to North Tyneside over the Bank Holiday weekend. These events are being staged by Music for Youth, one of our National Portfolio Organisations and National Youth Music Organisations, in collaboration with two other programmes we support - Music Education Hubs and Local Cultural Education Partnerships. As someone whose life-long love of classical music was sparked by attending an outdoor orchestral concert with my parents as a child – this sounds a brilliant way for family members of all ages to come together to celebrate the Coronation.

We have also made an extra investment in Libraries Connected, one of our Investment Principles Support Organisations, to fund libraries across England to commission and host events to mark the King and Queen’s Coronation. These includes libraries in Kirklees where children are being asked to build a castle fit for a king on the day of the Coronation itself. While Kingston’s library service is hosting a “crafternoon” with afternoon tea. And retuning to the theme of music, libraries in Leicestershire are hosting special King, Crowns and Coronet concerts over the weekend. Billed as a celebration of “all things royal” these are being run in partnership with Babygigs who provide opportunities for babies, young children and their families to hear live music of all kinds and to try out instruments.

Music has been part of the pageantry of Coronations for centuries. And it is wonderful that musicians from many of the orchestras we invest in will be at the heart of the King and Queen’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. Musicians drawn from Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House will join members of five other world class ensembles to form a special Coronation Orchestra. The King has commissioned 12 new compositions for the Coronation. Six of these have been composed for the orchestra and will form part of a programme that will also include existing works, of mainly British music, to played as part of a prelude to the arrival of the King and Queen for the Coronation service. These commissions showcase and celebrate our nation’s musical talent and reflect His Majesty’s support of the arts over many decades.

At Arts Council England, we are proud to see creativity and culture once again form a huge part of nationwide celebrations, as they have done previously on major royal occasions and at international sporting events such as the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

The Coronation is a time for families and communities to come together. We hope that the creative activities taking place close to your home over this historic weekend will give everyone the chance to experience the benefits and joy that high-quality cultural experiences can bring.