The South West Culture Digest - December 2021
In the last South West Culture Digest of 2021, we’re looking back at what has been another rollercoaster of a year.
We know times are tough right now, and we’re once again in admiration at the adaptability and resilience of artists and cultural organisations across the south west. Yet despite the downs, there’ve been a lot of ups. We’ve supported hundreds of remarkable creative and culture projects across the region through National Lottery Project Grants, and awarded millions to cultural organisations most in need through the Government’s lifeline Culture Recovery Fund. And we’ve recently announced new investment for two brilliant Creative People and Places projects in the south west, and a new fund to help communities celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
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Funding news
National Lottery Project Grants 2021 highlights
Thanks to National Lottery players, we’ve been able to support a whopping 528 projects across the south west through our National Lottery Project Grants funding programme, with an investment of over £12.9 million. We’ve supported a festival promoting children’s mental health through creativity in Hampshire; a new contemporary artist led studio in North Devon; a creative biosphere in the Isle of Wight; a literature festival in Swindon; Chinese New Year celebrations in Southampton and community engagement programmes in Somerset, Rushmoor and the New Forest – to name just a few!
Check out our Twitter thread >
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Good news
New investment for Creative People and Places projects in the South West
Earlier this month, we announced that we’ll be investing £1.8 million in two Creative People and Places (CPP) projects in the South West over the next three years, thanks to National Lottery investment. We’re excited to invite Culture in Common in the New Forest into our CPP National Portfolio programme for 2022-25, while also confirming an extension of our funding for our current CPP, Seed in Sedgemoor. These Creative People and Places projects will deliver grassroots-led cultural experiences in the New Forest and Sedgemoor where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average.
Find out more about our Creative People and Places programme >
Creative gift buying guide
Are you looking for unique gift ideas this Christmas? Then look no further, and also help to support the south west culture sector this Christmas.
You can support many organisations by gifting a voucher or membership, including vouchers from Lighthouse Poole and memberships from Poetry Archive. For the theatre-lover in your life, you can give tickets for Wise Children’s Wuthering Heights at Hall for Cornwall next year or Bristol Old Vic has some great gift options. Go online to Leach Pottery for beautiful ceramics from over 70 potters and visit MAKE South West’s gallery shop for gorgeous handmade gifts. If you need some inspiration, Bridport Arts Centre will be hosting their Gifted Christmas exhibition until 22 December, showcasing local contemporary craft and design.
Take a look at our Museum Shop Sunday Twitter thread for more great gift shops to visit online >
Connecting children in culture in Southampton
Around 600 children got involved in visual arts, creative writing and dance activities, thanks to a National Lottery funded programme of research and activity. The Connecting Culture project have undertaken 25 workshops in over 15 schools, and every child earned themselves an Arts Award certificate for being involved. The wide-reaching project involved the Southampton Education forum and aligns with the Southampton UK City of Culture bid ambitions. The research will result in a Young People’s Manifesto and Map, that puts children’s needs first, and supports the city’s ambitions to become a UNICEF accredited child-friendly city.
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Opportunities
BCP Cultural Compact is recruiting Young Board Members
The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Cultural Compact is a group of people brought together with a shared passion and vision for ensuring culture is prioritised across the conurbation. They are looking for two dynamic young people aged between 18 - 25 to join the Cultural Compact’s Board of six senior leaders who together represent arts, music, higher education, business, communities, and health across the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch areas.
Become Spike Island’s new Communications Manager
Spike Island is looking for an individual with the creativity, experience and commitment to join the team as their new Communications Manager and help shape dynamic relationships between art, artists and audiences. Responsibilities include leading on Spike Island’s communications and audience development strategies to support the effective realisation of its artistic programme and business plan.
Funding to help communities celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee
The Arts Council England Let’s Create Jubilee Fund is a new £5million programme, administered by UK Community Foundations and made possible thanks to National Lottery investment, to support community organisations to develop cultural and creative activities to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. Applicants are encouraged to partner with a practitioner or organisation who has received Arts Council funding to deliver their activity, with grants of up to £10,000 available. Applications open 4 January.
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SW Spotlight: Gloucester
Earlier this month our CEO, Darren Henley and South West Area Director Phil Gibby spent the day in Gloucester, one of our priority places, to meet some of the creatives, arts organisations and community leaders who are leading the way for culture, and to learn more about Gloucester’s ambitions for the future.
Read more about the cultural organisations leading the way in Gloucester >
