We've had a very busy start to the year here at the Vibrant Shropshire Cultural Compact. The panel have been busy reviewing all the funding applications we received in December and we are getting ready to announce the successful recipients to the public very soon.
We are also preparing for the next round of funding which will be available in March.
On the 18th January, we held a workshop on Creative Health led by Jane Hearst from the National Centre for Creative Health. It was a fantastic event that raised a lot of awareness about the importance of arts and creativity as a preventative care measure. The workshop was full of lots of lively discussion about furthering the creative health movement in Shropshire - to find out more, read our report below.
As we continue to develop our newsletter, it's become clear that a key element of it is the funding portion. Going forward we hope to include more relevant arts and culture based funding opportunities in our newsletters. If you find there is something missing from the funding list at the end of this email, please contact us.
We are also keen to promote important cultural news and achievements in our newsletters. If you have something you would like to share in this newsletter; a job opportunity, funding, or a success story, do let us know by emailing culturalcompact@shropshire.gov.uk
 On Thursday 18th January, we held a Creative Health workshop at University Centre Shrewsbury.
The workshop was led by Jane Hearst from the National Centre for Creative Health.
The workshop included a fantastic interactive presentation about the current situation in Creative Health, complete with examples and research.
It was really interesting to hear how beneficial creative activities were for people's mental and physical health. There are many steps being taken to use arts and cultural activities to support healthcare services, provide information about health issues and to transform approaches to patient care. These included:
- Social prescribing improving people's health through non-medical intervention
- Art in hospitals helping to reduce patient's pain
- Art groups as a way to combat social isolation
- Dance and movement classes preventing disease
- Community groups used to support health literacy
To find out more about these initiatives, click the button below to take a look at Jane's presentation:
A key project mentioned in the meeting was social prescribing. Social prescribing helps people access community services to help improve their health and wellbeing. It relieves strain on NHS services and offers alternatives for patients that are better suited for non-medical interventions. People are referred to these services through their GP or through self-referral. Shropshire's social prescribing offers are run by Community Development Officers.
The Community Development Officers also run the Community Connectors Networks throughout the county. These networks include regular meetings for community groups and services to get together and learn about local services. To find out more about this and social prescribing in Shropshire, please click the button below:
More information is also available on the Shropshire Council website.
We are currently developing a series of resources for people to access around creative health and how they can get involved. These will be made available soon and shared in future newsletters.
The Shropshire Growth Hub provides access to information on a wide range of support available to businesses in the county. They offer face-to-face advice on business grants, loans and support for Shropshire businesses no matter the size or sector.
You can sign up to their newsletter here and select 'business' as your preference.
To find out more about Shropshire Growth Hub, click the button below:
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PITCH UP offers an exclusive opportunity to pitch your show to touring schemes from across the UK.
- Never toured your show on the rural network before?
- Have toured but only with some of the network?
- Have toured but not for a while?
Arts Alive, Highlights Rural touring Scheme, Spot On Lancashire and Artsreach Dorset with partners National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF) are coming together to host three digital pitching showcases in 2024.
The first is on Monday 18th March and is now open for applications from theatremakers (of all genres) who would like to make a 20-minute digital pitch directly to the network for their show to be programmed.
Applications close Friday 1st March.
If you need any assistance with the application or pitching process, please contact Hannah Prior at hannah@artsalive.co.uk
Find out more and apply to be part of this unique opportunity (you will need to create a free Eventotron profile first):
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Crowdfund Shropshire, the new civic fundraising platform where community groups can get their projects funded by public and grant funding, is opening in the next month. Come along to a workshop on the 20th of February to find out about how your project could benefit, how it works and top tips for your campaign.
For the next round of funding, projects can bid for up to £10,000 from the Shared Prosperity Community Fund (in partnership with Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership) and up to £20,000 from the Green Spaces and Active Travel Fund (in partnership with Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Wildlife Trust).
There are currently five projects crowdfunding at the moment. They include Rural Art Hub, Walking in Wem, Multicultural Children's Day, Little Stars in the Community and Get Crafty With Words. Check out their projects here for inspiration and donate or spread the word to help them reach their goal!
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Tim Ashton of Soulton Hall, Wem will be giving a lecture on William Shakespeare's connection with Shropshire this weekend.
He will be exploring how Sir Rowland Hill (who lived at the hall) is recognised as the real life inspiration for Shakespeare's character Old Rowland in As You Like It.
He will be sharing his research at a lecture at the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul's in Wem on Saturday 10th February at 7pm. The lecture will also consider other connections between Shakespeare and Shropshire and the positive impact that these findings can have on Shropshire's economy.
The event is free to attend and there is no need to book in advance.
To read more about Shakespeare's connections with Shropshire, click the button below:
 Shropshire Parent and Carer Council (PACC) took a new step forward in January by supporting 4 young people with special needs to volunteer as Meeters and Greeters at the Relaxed performance of the Pantomime at Theatre Severn. The young people were made to feel very much part of the front of house team. They had a job description, attended the pre-briefing, supported the performance and cleared up afterwards. The feedback from those attending the show was very positive. A Parent Carer said "It was so lovely to see the young people giving us such a smiley welcome. It helped set the scene for a very relaxed and chilled enjoyable morning."
PACC will continue to work with Theatre Severn to make relaxed performances as positive as possible for the SEND community. If you have any similar "bite size" supported volunteering opportunities their young people could provide, please get in touch with enquiries@paccshropshire.org.uk .
Let's help make culture in Shropshire accessible for all!
ArtFlicks is a brand new commission opportunity from Rural Media that supports emerging artists to create and distribute original content designed for social media platforms.
They are looking to commission artists to create four pieces of content each. Content must be between 30 seconds to 3 minutes in length each and must involve at least one artistic discipline (Dance, Spoken Word, Poetry, Theatre, Music, Visual Arts).
They suggest the content be captured through commissioned artists personal devices (Phone, tablet etc) and be made as cost effectively as possible. They will support commissioned artists to use simple editing software to help bring their content to life.
Artists aged 18 - 24 can apply to create original work or existing live work to be digitally expanded or transformed.
Find out more below:
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Emerging Maker Grant
Talented early-career craftspeople who have a strong foundation and commitment to their craft but who are still in the process of developing their skills and expertise can apply for a grant of up to £10,000.
This grant is for craft training and education including traditional college courses, vocational one-on-one learning or a programme of short courses.
Grant amount: up to £10,000
Deadline: 12th February 2024
Find out more:
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PRS Foundation Talent Development Network
Funding is available for not-for-profit organisations based in the UK to support talent development programmes involving the creation, performance and promotion of new music by living, UK-based music creators.
Applications will be accepted from not-for-profit organisations, with a track record of transformational talent development of at least 18 months, based in the UK with an eligible programme of activity. This includes:
- Talent development-specialist development organisations.
- Festivals.
- Venues.
- Promoters.
- Commissioning organisations.
- Orchestras and large ensembles (large performance groups would include orchestras, choirs, jazz bands or folk groups with 12 or more performers).
- Curators.
- Organisations that are limited by guarantee and/or a registered charity.
- CIC organisations.
- Collectives including creator-led collectives.
- Non-music organisations including local authorities, museums, etc where they are responsible for the management and delivery of music creator development-focused activities.
Grant amount: Between £10,000 and £25,000
Deadline: 26th February 2024
Find out more:
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Jerwood Foundation
The Jerwood Foundation is offering grants to support organisations throughout the United Kingdom that focus on making art available for public benefit and promoting emerging talent in the arts.
Up to £2 million is available per year to support a variety of projects and activities that promote arts for public benefit.
Funding is for projects starting more than three months, but less than 12 months, from the funding round closing date.
Grant amount: various
Deadline: 1st March 2024
Find out more:
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Henry Moore Foundation
Henry Moore Foundation is offering various grants of up to £20,000 for art galleries, museums, and other not-for-profit organisations concerned with art and art history across the UK to support projects that promote the growth and development of sculpture across historical, modern and contemporary registers, and research that expands the appreciation of sculpture.
The Foundation offers funding in the following categories:
- New projects and commissions: Grants of up to £20,000 to encourage new thinking about sculpture or sculpture history or contribute to public awareness and appreciation of sculpture.
- Acquisitions and collections: Grants of up to £20,000 for museums and galleries who wish to acquire or conserve sculpture for their collections as well as for cataloguing and display costs.
- Research and development:
- Long-term grants of up to £20,000 for projects that require funding for more than one year, such as a permanent collection catalogue.
- Small research grants of up to £2,500 for academics, curators, and independent scholars to cover research costs on the history and interpretation of sculpture.
- Conferences, lectures, and publications: Grants of up to £5000 to publish a new book or journal, or to stage a conference or other event related to sculpture.
Deadline: 1st March 2024
Find out more:
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Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Fund
Open to organisations in the UK and US, the Digital Accelerator Program provides grants and training to help arts organisations invest in strategic improvements to their technology infrastructure.
The Digital Accelerator provides funding, expert technical assistance, and leadership development over two years to strengthen the digital infrastructure of non-profit cultural organisations with the principal goals of growing revenue, increasing fundraising, engaging audiences, improving operations, and developing programming opportunities.
Supported projects fall into the following categories:
- Content creation and distribution
- CRM/ticketing
- Digital archives/ digital asset management
- Websites
Grant amount: up to £150,000. Higher amounts will be considered for certain projects.
Deadline: 13th March 2024
Find out more:
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Creative Development Fund
The Cultural Development Fund by Arts Council England aims to level up investment in culture and the creative industries across England. The fund will unlock local growth and productivity, increase access to creativity and culture, and regenerate communities. This is being achieved through capital investment in transformative place-based creative and cultural initiatives.
The funding will help create local job opportunities and new training places, while supporting local cultural institutions as they look to attract tourists and new businesses, helping to grow the economy. Applicants can apply for capital (asset) activity with a limited proportion of resource activity (project activity).
Grant amount: between £2 million and £5 million
Deadline: 15th March 2024
Find out more:
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2024 Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs
The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Enterprise (DBACE) help creative entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality. Aspiring individuals who want to go into business in the creative industries and require practical and financial support are being targeted.
Applicants will be able to explore, develop and establish their creative ideas into sustainable ventures – through business planning training, mentoring and capital funding for starting-up.
DBACE welcomes applications from UK entrepreneurs aged 18 and over, who have a strong idea or an existing business in the creative industries.
Grant amount: up to £20,000 of investment
Deadline: 2nd April 2024
Find out more:
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ChurchCare
The Church of England offers grants for the conservation of their historic churches. This includes the restoration of:
- paintings
- stained glass
- monuments
- decorative metalwork
- textiles
- wooden objects
- clocks
Grant amounts: various
Deadline: various
To read about these grants and find out more, click the button button below:
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British Council International Collaborative Arts Projects
The British Council is offering grants for arts and culture organisations across the UK to work in partnership with international organisations from selected countries to support arts projects that help artists to make and develop creative artwork and encourage new international partnerships and innovative ways of collaborating.
In the second round of the International Collaboration Grants Programme, a total of £1 million is available for UK groups working in partnership with one or more organisations from eligible participating countries to deliver arts projects.
Priority will be given to partnerships that show clear benefits to artists and international partners and genuine international collaboration. The Council is particularly keen to work with organisations that they have not previously worked with, especially those based outside Greater London.
Grant amount: between £25,000 and £75,000
Deadline: 30th April 2024
Find out more:
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Theatres Trust: Small Grants Programme supported by the Lindbury Trust
This grants programme funds small projects that make a big impact to a theatre's resilience, sustainability, accessibility or improving the diversity of audiences.
This scheme provides grants of up to £5,000 for essential works to enable not-for-profit theatres across the UK to be viable and thrive in the future.
Eligible projects include small capital works, the installation of key plant and machinery and works which make theatre buildings digital-ready.
Grant amount: up to £5,000
Deadline: 7th June 2024 at 12 noon
Find out more:
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Youth Music NextGen Fund
The Youth Music NextGen Fund offers young creatives grants of up to £2,500 to make their ideas happen.
The Youth Music NextGen Fund is for early-stage musicians and wider music adjacent creatives to invest up to £2,500 in their own projects and make their ideas happen. The fund is especially aimed at those whose lack of finance holds them back from pursuing their goals.
It's open to 18–25-year-olds (and up to 30-year-olds who identify as d/Deaf or Disabled) who live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Grant amount: £2,500
Deadline: 28th June 2024
Find out more:
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The Radcliffe Trust
The Radcliffe Trust continues his charitable bequest through the support of Music and Heritage & Crafts. Grants are currently open for both.
Music: The Radcliffe Trust supports classical music performance and training, especially chamber music, composition and music education.
Particular interests within music education are music for children and adults with special needs, youth orchestras and projects at secondary and higher levels, including academic research. The Trustees respond to applications and also initiate their own projects.
Heritage & Crafts: The Radcliffe Trust supports the development of the skills, knowledge and experience that underpin the UK's cultural heritage and crafts sectors. This includes support for emerging craftspeople of high quality, craft and conservation projects and training, projects demonstrating creative outcomes by designer-makers, projects with potential for capacity building within the sector, and some special needs projects focusing on the therapeutic benefits of skills development.
Grant amounts: £2,500 - £7,500
Deadline: 31st July 2024 for consideration in December
Find out more:
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Greene King IPA Proud to Pitch In Fund
Grants of up to £4,000 are available for registered charities, community groups, social enterprises, community amateur sports clubs, and other organisations across the UK to deliver grassroots sports activities that positively impact local communities.
Grant amount: up to £4,000
Deadline: 1st November 2024
Find out more:
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Historic Houses Foundation
The Historic Houses Foundation gives grants for the repair and conservation of rural historic buildings and structures in England and Wales, including their gardens, grounds and outbuildings. They also give grants for the restoration and conservation of works of art in historic house collections open to the public.
Grants are made to owners (charities, institutions, local authorities and individuals) who demonstrate a sustainable and long-term commitment to the care, management and public access of the historic country houses in their care.
They aim to make grants for projects which either do not qualify for funding from any of the mainstream sources or have been awarded only partial funding. They will also consider making grants to kick start a project but will expect further funding to be in place within 1 to 2 years.
Grant amounts: The minimum grant amount is £1,000, the maximum is £250,000 though awards of this size are only made in exceptional circumstances. Most grants are less than £50,000.
Deadline: rolling
Find out more:
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To read more funding opportunities available, take a look at the VCSA Funding Opportunities Roundup.
Know about an arts or cultural funding opportunity that isn't listed here? Please contact us
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