Arts Grants 2020/2021 to support Shropshire’s cultural sector

The arts play a crucial role in the economic, educational and cultural wellbeing of the county, and are valuable contributors to Shropshire Council’s wider objectives. Their contribution makes Shropshire a unique and dynamic and a great place to live, work and visit.

Shropshire Council are committed to arts and culture and understand the huge difference investment in the sector makes.

Since 2009 Shropshire Council Arts Service has provided funding for the arts sector, through a small grants scheme.

For 2020/21, the grant scheme has been updated. The new programme has been designed in response to feedback from the sector.

Professional arts organisations, festivals and venues are invited to apply for one of five grants, with a value of £5,000 each.

This funding is intended to provide financial support for professional arts organisations / festivals who regularly deliver high quality programmes of work directly benefiting artists, participants, audiences and those who contribute to Shropshire Council priorities.

Through the five grants Shropshire Council want to support a broad range of exemplar, exciting and inclusive programmes happening in a variety of spaces and locations across our very large and sparsely populated rural county.

Lezley Picton, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, Shropshire Council said,

“The grant scheme has been updated in order to continue the Council’s vital support for the arts sector. Our aspiration is that the new funded programmes of work will offer all sections of the community new experiences and help enable everyone to get involved in the arts regardless of circumstance.”

Programmes of work will need to meet a number of criteria and be delivered by the arts sector in Shropshire (unitary area) between late September 2020 and September 2021.

For a copy of the Grant Guidance and Criteria and the Application Form click here.

For more information about the grant scheme please contact Alexa Pugh: alexa.pugh@shropshire.gov.uk

We strongly advise all applicants to follow official guidance in relation to COVID-19.  You can find this on the Government website – https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response.

We are strongly encouraging communities to continue to follow the current health advice here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

For further information about Arts Development in Shropshire Council, please contact Alexa Pugh on 01743 257734 or email alexa.pugh@shropshire.gov.uk.

For media contact, please email Adam Spreckley: Adam.Spreckley@shropshire.gov.uk or communications@shropshire.gov.uk