Deadline: 13-Jan-25
The Fenland District Council is seeking applications for the round two of Fenland Culture Fund to local creative individuals and organisations.
Grants can be spent on revenue or capital expenditure to either:
- Support the delivery of arts, culture and heritage projects and activities in Fenland.
- Invest in equipment and tools, and adapt or improve new or existing cultural spaces.
Focus Areas
- Culture is well placed to contribute towards a number of Fenland’s priority areas:
- Changing population
- Aging population
- Outstanding heritage
- March – A Destination Market Town
- Chatteris – An Aspirational Community
- Whittlesey – A Market Town Fit for the Future
- Wisbech
- Four Seasons Events Fenland District Council
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Business Plan.
- Fenland District Council Business Plan
Themes
- Connections – There are many great cultural activities already happening in Fenland, often undertaken by volunteers with limited resources, but with great support from local people. More may be achieved if organisers and key community players worked together across the District. This would allow them to achieve activities and events with greater impact, draw down funding from national funding bodies and share resources and skills.
- Communication – The interesting and exciting cultural activity already going on in Fenland is well supported by those who know about it. However, there is a lack of communication beyond people already involved. Fenland’s geography of numerous villages makes it difficult for cultural workers to communicate what they do effectively across Fenland. There is a perception both within and beyond Fenland that there is not much cultural activity taking place, however the consultation shows that this is not the case. This perception needs to be challenged and the cultural activity in Fenland needs good communication, to be celebrated and amplified, both within the district and beyond.
- Empowerment – Many people in Fenland are actively involved in cultural activity, ranging from keeping traditional events alive, creating new arts activity opportunities, energising museums, generating new creative work and supporting young people in creative careers. However, many of these people are volunteers and have limited resources, would benefit from skills development, as well as funding support. Often they have ideas but not the knowledge of how to translate them into action. People need support and empowerment to grow their ideas.
- Inspiration – Focused coordination can bring inspirational, high quality events and activities to Fenland to inspire people and encourage participation. A Development Officer for Fenland would assist with access to regional and national funding to do this, bringing people in Fenland together to enable small ideas to grow into bigger ones, and to promote the great work that is already happening.
Categories
- Revenue Expenditure: Typical revenue expenditure may involve one or more of a range of cultural or heritage activities such as drama, music, painting, photography, craft, storytelling, writing, circus, dance, digital arts, nature, archaeology, or museum practice. These activities might take the form of, for example, the creation of new work, skills development, the staging of a performance, an exhibition, workshops, development of a heritage or nature trail, a festival, etc.
- Capital expenditure is for non-consumable items with a lifespan of several years. For example, the purchase of new equipment, tools or signage, refurbishment of an existing arts, culture or heritage space, or studio improvements.
Funding Information
- Small grants of up to £2,000 are available from a grant pot totalling £50,000.
- The grant pot is made up of:
- £35,000 in revenue funding to support the delivery of arts, culture and heritage projects and activities in Fenland.
- £15,000 in capital funding to invest in equipment and tools, and adapt or improve new or existing cultural spaces, to support local creative individuals and organisations in their practice.
Expected Outcomes
- Applications must benefit communities or artists in Fenland and must align to at least one of the following outcomes that align to the Fenland Cultural Strategy:
- Building new relationships
- Reaching more people
- Improving the quality of your work
- Supporting artistic ambition
Ineligible Activities
- Activity that has already taken place
- Activity that takes place outside of Fenland
- Statutory services that should be provided by organisations such as schools, libraries etc.
- Except for partnership projects and as described in your application form, funds cannot be passed on to other organisations and will not fund investments.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Fenland Culture Fund is open to:
- Individuals aged 16 years or over, either living or working in Fenland.
- Arts, culture and heritage organisations either based in or working in Fenland.
For more information, visit Fenland District Council.