Welcome to the latest edition of the Vibrant Shropshire newsletter.
We want to highlight some of the great opportunities and projects happening across Shropshire's cultural sector.
If you have something you would like to share in future newsletters such as a job opportunity, funding, cultural opportunity or a success story, do let us know by emailing culturalcompact@shropshire.gov.uk
Make sure to check out the Cultural Funding Opportunities at the end of the newsletter.
If you think this newsletter might be of interest to someone you know, please forward it onto them. To make sure you get this newsletter every month, subscribe here.
 Vibrant Shropshire: A Cultural Compact has commissioned 13 organisations to deliver a programme of arts and cultural activities that celebrates Shropshire’s unique character as part of the ‘This is Shropshire’ Festival, thanks to funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The programme of activities includes dementia-friendly singing workshops, inclusive dance performances, family art activities, classes and demonstrations of Chinese culture, creative writing workshops, celebrating people’s family connections with the county and skills development opportunities for emerging artists, performers and those wanting to work behind the scenes at music events. The programme reflects the breadth and vibrancy of Shropshire’s creative sector.
Details about This is Shropshire, and all the different projects can be found at This is Shropshire | Vibrant Shropshire
The programme helps deliver the county’s cultural strategy, including removing barriers to participation, especially for underserved communities.
The programme also aims to strengthen the cultural sector’s role in the development of Shropshire’s economy, by enhancing skills and encouraging people to pursue careers in the arts. It includes cultural initiatives that positively impact on people’s mental and physical health and that raise awareness of environmental issues.
Read the full story at the button below:
Nick Fogg (Piece of String Media), in partnership with Vibrant Shropshire, are offering free outdoor family workshops exploring farming and the environment, and using digital media.
Join them on a Shropshire hill farm to discover what they farm and how they farm.
Get creative with photos, video and sound. And share what you see, hear and learn.
October workshops
- Monday 27th October 10am–3.30pm in the Longville area. Book here:
- Thursday 30th October 10am–3.30pm in the Myndtown area. Book here:
The workshops are aimed at families with children aged 5+ interested in spending a day in the countryside, finding out where food comes from, and how farmers look after wildlife and the environment.
Places are funded — booking is essential
Families must include at least one adult
Digital media equipment provided
We’ll be outside all day — be ready for all weathers!
The workshop will involve a fair amount of gentle walking on uneven ground, a bit of which is steep
Email workshops@pieceofstringmedia.co.uk or call Nick (she/her) 07718 274884 if you have any
questions or to talk about access needs.
This project is part of the This is Shropshire Festival funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
 Are you an artist, cultural organisation, or creative practitioner interested in how the arts can support health and wellbeing? Join us for an interactive training session with Jane Hearst, Research and Policy Manager at the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH).
When: Thursday 30 October, 10:00am - 12:30pm
Where: The Smithy Meeting Room, Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, SY1 2SZ
Price: FREE
This session is designed for those working in the arts and cultural sector who want to understand how creativity connects with NHS and Local Authority health systems and priorities. Whether you're an artist, creative freelancer, community arts facilitator or simply passionate about the role of creativity in health, this workshop is for you.
What to expect:
- A practical overview of national and local developments in Creative Health
- Insights into key names, phrases, and organisational structures within healthcare
- Guidance on presenting creative case studies to health stakeholders
- Discussion on shaping Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin’s creative health identity
- Exploration of “bridging” roles between culture and health sectors
- Opportunities to contribute to policy and strategy in Creative Health
The session will be shaped by your interests, with PowerPoint prompts, Q&A, and open discussion. You’ll leave with practical tools, clearer insights, and a stronger grasp of how Creative Health can align with health system priorities—helping you elevate the role of arts and culture in supporting health and wellbeing, both locally and nationally.
Vibrant Shropshire has received funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to run this event.
Book your place on Eventbrite below now:
On Thursday 18th September, Vibrant Shropshire in partnership with Community Resource, held a training event to learn how organisations can effectively work with volunteers.
This workshop highlighted the ways in which Community Resource can support organisations with their recruitment, retention and management of volunteers.
Some key takeaways were:
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Volunteering Principles: Volunteering is based on choice, inclusivity, mutual benefit, and recognition of contributions to individuals and communities
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Benefits of Volunteers: Volunteers bring fresh perspectives, skills, enthusiasm, and credibility, helping organizations reach more people and stay relevant
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Effective Volunteer Management: Successful volunteering requires clear roles, organizational support, recognition, and resources to support volunteers properly
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Volunteer Support: Support involves encouragement and feedback, while supervision focuses on task guidance and accountability to enhance volunteer effectiveness
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Volunteer Retention: Volunteers stay when they feel appreciated, supported, effective, and part of a team, with opportunities for development and recognition
The workshop also highlighted some important resources for managing volunteers:
This event was funded by the UK Government through the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
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Poet Roger Garfitt will perform his acclaimed work - A Celebration in Poetry & Jazz of the life and work of Mary Webb - accompanied by music written by Nikki Iles and recorded by the John Williams Octet.
When: Tuesday 14th October / 6:00pm
Where: Shrewsbury Library
Price: FREE
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 A new and constantly expanding media library is now available on the Tourism in Shropshire website - a fantastic free resource for businesses and volunteer organisations in Shropshire.
The library of images and video clips is a new resource for business in Shropshire to help tell the story about visiting or working in Shropshire.
You can search the library by location and/ or theme and then download any images you would like to use for your own marketing.
Take a look at the library here:
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Also available are FREE assets from the In Shropshire brand including suggested copy when talking about the county as a visitor destination and templates for social media posts.
Read more about the In Shropshire brand here
This project is part of the Visitor Economy project funded by the UK Government UKSPF.
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 Our new Vibrant Shropshire website includes a directory of all the Vibrant Shropshire partners. This directory will be used to connect partners, promote co-working and link up Shropshire's cultural sector.
To be included in this directory and share the work that you do, please fill out the form linked below.
Once you have filled out the form, please send us a copy of your logo to culturalcompact@shropshire.gov.uk
If you are not a Vibrant Shropshire partner, why not become one for free? Please sign up using the link below, you will then be able to complete the directory form:
Have you got a project coming up that you would like to promote?
Do you have news that you would like to share with your peers?
Perhaps you know about an opportunity for cultural practitioners that isn't listed here.
We want to hear from you.
Please send us details of:
- events
- exhibitions
- classes
- employment opportunities
- shows and performances
- commission opportunities
- available funding
- partnership projects
Our aim is to make this newsletter as informative and useful for Shropshire's Cultural Sector. If you know of an opportunity that's of interest to you, chances are it's of interest to another creative practitioner too.
Please send details to culturalcompact@shropshire.gov.uk
Below you will find a selection of currently open cultural funding opportunities. To see a full list of cultural funding opportunities, please visit the funding page of our website.
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The National Archives Seed Corn Grants
The National Archives’ Seed Corn Grants offer small grants to support early-stage, exploratory projects that spark new ideas and approaches to community engagement with heritage.
Grant amount: between £500 and £5,000
Deadline(s):
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Round 1: opens 15th September, closes 28th November 2025
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Round 2: 2nd February 2026, closes 17th April 2026
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Jerwood Foundation
Jerwood Foundation supports excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK, they welcome funding applications from organisations with a focus on making art available for public benefit and working with their collection.
Grant amounts: not specified
Deadline:
- Winter 2025: closes 15th October
- Spring 2026: opens 4th February closes 18th March
- Winter 2026: opens 26th August closes 7th October
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Linnean Society Our Local Nature
The Our Local Nature Grant scheme is designed to provide young people with an opportunity to take the lead on projects that involve their local nature and natural spaces, to aid young people in realising their influence to affect positive change, to have their voices heard, and see their ideas come to life.
This grant is purposefully broad and welcomes novel ideas. Some examples of possible proposals could be:
- running a school festival about nature
- painting community murals showcasing biodiversity in the area
- building a community garden
- creating a nature walk
- hiring a speaker to come and talk about local foraging
Grant amount: up to £1,000
Deadline: 25 October 2025
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To find more available funding opportunities, take a look at the Available Funding page on our website:
Know about an arts or cultural funding opportunity that isn't listed here? Please contact us
To share your news with Vibrant Shropshire partners and members of the cultural sector please email: culturalcompact@shropshire.gov.uk
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