Residents encouraged to apply for funding to stage Borough of Culture events

Article date: 13 March 2023

The special funding initiative was formally announced at the launch event held at The World of Glass last weekend, which played host to a fantastic variety of local artistic, heritage and cultural talent from across the local area.

Now residents, local artistic, heritage, sports, creative, voluntary and community groups have the opportunity to apply for grant funding to hold their own events to help support the Borough of Culture. There are 4 different grant funding streams with differing criteria and application deadlines.

The Reside funding initiative, offering grants of up to £1,000, is being supported by Arts Council England, via St Helens Library Service and is open to any individual artists or creatives living, working or connected to the borough. Applications need to be submitted by Monday March 20^th.

Once approved for funding, you will have the opportunity to create a project to be showcased anywhere across the local area during Borough of Culture year. Local library spaces will be available to residents to showcase their work as part of the initiative.

The Reside programme is one of four options being offered to local residents who are looking to create their own project during Borough of Culture year.

Other initiatives include the Creative Underground Community Grants programme which is open to local voluntary, community and other not for profit organisations in the borough. 

Grants are available for up to £4,000 and programme is being supported by the national Lottery Heritage Fund and Liverpool City region Combined Authority. Applications should be submitted by April 17^th.

In addition residents and groups can apply for funding to stage events through the St Helens Borough of Culture Open Grants scheme, supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, offering grants of up to £2,500. Applications should be submitted by May 1^st.

Constituted groups may also apply for funding from the Harry and Mavis Pilkington Foundation Fund Grant scheme, offering grants of up to £250. Applications for this initiative should be submitted by June 5^th.

For information and full details about all of the grants mentioned above please visit https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/article/7984/Grants-and-Commissions

Councillor Anthony Burns, St Helens Borough Council Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Communities and Culture said "The Borough of Culture year is very much focussed on celebrating and promoting the very best that St Helens has to offer in terms of artistic and cultural talent.

"So we are particularly interested in hearing from people that may not have received funding for their creative idea or projects before or who simply want to contribute and stage an event.

 "This second Borough of Culture year provides us with an ideal opportunity to showcase just how much talent St Helens has to offer so please do come forward and apply if you have an idea for a project that you want to bring to life."

For more details on events taking place as part of St Helens Borough of Culture please visit: Borough of Culture - Borough of Culture (culturesthelens.co.uk)

Funders for our Borough of Culture year include National Lottery Heritage Fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Arts Council England.