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.
We are sure that you will all share our deep sorrow about the tragic death of Rose Roberts last week in Shrewsbury.
Rose was a very highly regarded and popular member of Shropshire's arts community and she put her heart and soul into the restoration of Perches House. Our thoughts are with Jess and her family.
Jess is continuing Rose's amazing work by rebuilding Perches House and has started a Crowd Funding Page to assist with this.
Details can be found here.
 A fully funded programme giving Shropshire’s creative businesses the chance to shine in a high‑street retail environment.
The Shropshire Artisan Showcase 2026 offers eight Shropshire based designer makers and producers the opportunity to take part in a supported retail pop up showcase. The programme includes:
- A week long event at Darwin Shopping Centre from 11th to 16th May 2026
- Free pop up shop space
- Four months of retail, sales and marketing support
- Expert led workshops and on site mentoring to build confidence and prepare for trading in a busy high street setting
This initiative is designed to help creative businesses take their next step into physical retail and grow sustainably beyond the showcase.
How Do I Apply?
Applications close on the 10th February.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be based in the Shropshire Council local authority area
- Demonstrate creativity, originality and alignment with the programme’s objectives
Register your interest by emailing growthhub@shropshire.gov.uk.
Voice is seeking a talented individual with creative flair and design skills to join their team as Magazine Assistant
Voice is an online magazine for young people interested in arts and culture, and offers a training programme for those heading for careers in the creative industries.
You’re likely to be starting or progressing your career into the arts and media world. You’ll work to our Company Manager and Editor, designing and creating content for social media and promotional campaigns, supporting training programmes, and assisting young people to access events and opportunities. You must have an understanding of the creative media sector and how to engage young people.
You will be a team player who can work independently and remotely, able to handle administrative tasks, prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
This is a part-time freelance contract of 6 days p/month (total 48 hours) from 1st April 2026 - 31st March 2027, with possible extension. As a Midlands-based charity we are particularly seeking applicants living in the Midlands.
For full details please read the Job Description here.
To apply, please download and complete our application form here.
Application deadline is 5pm on Friday 20th February 2026, interviews to be held on Friday 6th March 2026.
For further information on the role, please contact Judy McFall, Company Manager.
Shropshire Music Service’s (SMS) contribution to the ‘This is Shropshire’ arts programme was inspired by the Alzheimer’s Society’s ‘Singing for the Brain’ programme, which promotes acceptance, artistic expression and social stimulation for people with dementia.
Running from September to December 2025, four specially accredited staff, all highly qualified music educators, delivered forty one-hour sessions across four of Coverage Care’s specialist dementia care homes: Montgomery House and Briarfields in Shrewsbury, Greenfields in Whitchurch and New Fairholme in Oswestry. Sessions included up to thirty residents living with dementia (some advanced and others in early stage), their families, and on-site carers. And each fostered a warm, inclusive environment where music became a bridge to connection and joy with singing, sometimes from song sheets but usually from memory, and playing percussion instruments.
Continue reading about this project at the button below...
Who is the most valuable person working at a music concert? – and it’s not one of the performers!
The sound engineer is often considered to be an extra member of the band and the bigger groups will always have one as a dedicated, integral part of their team. Major theatres and halls will also employ professionals in the role. But what about the less well known artists and the smaller venues? They too need skilled and passionate technicians to bring their shows to life. The sound mix and balance between the musical instruments and the amount of echo when the vocalist is singing or talking will greatly affect the quality of the experience for the audience – and the reputation of the performers.
Jen and Westley Bone’s ShireFolk, based in Bridgnorth, brings some of the UK’s finest emerging talent of the folk scene to the Marches region. Each month, they tour an artist for three days to exciting venues in Leominster, Bewdley and Bridgnorth, reaching audiences limited by being in rural areas away from the big cities, and every show needs technical expertise to enhance it.
The Crew Futures Project, supported by Vibrant Shropshire through funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, enabled five local residents to take part in two days of practical training to learn the essential skills needed to work on live events — from setting up stages and handling equipment to basic sound engineering. This was followed by three days of real-world experience as part of the technical team at the Bridgnorth Music and Arts Festival, a popular grassroots event celebrating local talent and creativity.
Continue reading about this project at the button below...
- Tuesday 10th February
- 9:30am - 12:30pm
- Shrewsbury Room, Guildhall, Frankwell Quay, Shrewsbury, SY3 8HQ
- FREE
Dive deeper into the practical skills, knowledge and connections needed to deliver safe, successful and inspiring events.
Following the success of How to Organise Your Own Festival or Event organised by the Visitor Economy Team and Vibrant Shropshire, Festivals Together dives deeper into the practical skills, knowledge and connections needed to deliver safe, successful and inspiring events.
This half‑day workshop brings festival and event organisers together to explore best practice, strengthen sector-wide collaboration and build confidence in the policies and procedures that underpin great event delivery.
This event is made possible thanks to funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
What to Expect
- Training on key operational areas, policies, and procedures
- Case studies and insights from experienced organisers and sector professionals
- Interactive discussions on challenges, solutions and emerging trends
- Networking opportunities to connect with peers, share experiences and spark new collaborations
- Practical takeaways you can apply immediately to your own events
 On Thursday 22 January, Vibrant Shropshire welcomed partners, practitioners and supporters to the Gateway Centre in Shrewsbury for an uplifting Information Sharing Event celebrating the achievements of the This is Shropshire cultural commissioning programme. The programme, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported 13 community‑focused cultural projects addressing local priorities including wellbeing, environmental awareness, inclusion, skills development and work with disadvantaged groups.
The evening began with arrival drinks before presentations from five commissioned organisations.
ShireFolk delivered a project of music activities and showcased their Crew Futures strand, giving people hands‑on technical experience at the Bridgnorth Music & Arts Festival. They shared short videos of activities including a ceilidh session, a community drumming workshop and a relaxed “fireside” jam — illustrating both participation and behind‑the‑scenes learning opportunities.
Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings addressed working with financially disadvantaged communities through their Beyond the Mosaic project. They shared an evaluation video (created by The Hive) capturing their family‑friendly creative workshops for financially disadvantaged residents, inspired by the site’s giant mosaic. Their presentation demonstrated how the project supported confidence, creativity and community connection.
Pentabus spoke about Home is Here, their multigenerational project that overcame barriers to participation in culture by connecting schools and care homes through spoken word and singing. They invited attendees to help create a collective “Shropshire” poem — a simple, reflective activity encouraging people to consider what the county means to them.
Oswestry Memorial Hall presented their OMH Moments collaboration with members of the resettlement community, more specifically the Ukrainian community. They shared the project booklet created through participants’ research into the Memorial Hall’s history and connection with the community, and Svitlana, a community member who helped lead the work, spoke about taking part and what the project meant to those involved.
CultureKind demonstrated the joy and inclusiveness of their multicultural activities by inviting attendees to try interactive moments, including expressive dancing with silk ribbons. Their project brought Chinese cultural experiences to festivals across the county.
Attendees also heard reflections on the wider success of the This is Shropshire programme. Across six months, the 13 commissions delivered hundreds of cultural events, engaging thousands of people and strengthening cultural networks across Shropshire while expanding opportunities for meaningful community participation.
The event further showcased Vibrant Shropshire’s broader achievements, including 20 training and networking events, 43 grants and commissions and strengthened county‑wide partnership working.
The formal programme closed with thanks to all partners and contributors, followed by relaxed refreshments and conversation. The networking session offered space for attendees to reconnect, share experiences from their This is Shropshire projects, and explore opportunities for continued collaboration as the cultural sector looks ahead to its next chapter.
Find out more about the This is Shropshire Festival programme on our Projects page:
 Our 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.
Four Nations International Fund
The Four Nations International Fund helps artists and creative practitioners from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales collaborate with each other and with partners around the world.
Grant amount: up to £7,500
Deadline: 25 February 2026
|
|
 |
|
KFC Youth Foundation
The KFC Youth Foundation is committed to backing grassroots organisations that are helping young people to thrive. The grants programme supports youth‑focused organisations across the UK working with young people aged 11-25 in areas of high deprivation. They fund programmes that create safe spaces, offer diversionary activities, and build life skills – from confidence and resilience to job readiness – to help young people feel secure, empowered, and ready for a positive future.
Grant amount: up to £6,000 over two years
Deadline: 27 February 2026
|
|
 |
BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund
The BFI Creative Challenge Fund aims to decentralise project development and stimulate a healthier, wider ecosystem by funding a mosaic of interventions across the UK that touch underserved areas in the screen industry.
Grant amount: between £12,000 and £150,000
Deadline: Monday 16 March 2026
|
|
 |
The Alan Surtees Trust
The Alan Surtees Trust is a grant giving organisation that supports young performers aged 16 - 30 whose work is rooted in, or influenced by, traditional music and arts of any culture.
It was set up in memory of Alan Surtees, the co-founder and director of Shrewsbury Folk Festival, in 2017.
Grant amount: £2,000
Deadline: 30 April 2026
|
|
 |
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
|
