Coronavirus: Emergency grants to support county’s arts sector

Shropshire Council is committed to arts and culture, and understands the huge difference investment in the sector makes.

In response to the current crisis, Shropshire Council is providing emergency grant funding for arts organisations, venues and festivals in the county.

The aim of the funding is to support arts organisations over the next six months, to develop and deliver digital and online programmes of work, and to continue to engage with user groups, communities, participants and audiences in a virtual way.

The funding will help ensure all sections of the community still have opportunities to experience high quality arts activity.

This funding is in addition to the Arts Grants funding which was launched in March 2020. Eligible organisations will be able to apply for both pots of funding.

Professional arts organisations, festivals and venues are invited to apply for one grant of £1,000. 

This funding is intended to provide financial support for professional arts organisations / festivals whose programmes have been impacted by coronavirus.

Specifically, it is for those who regularly deliver high quality programmes of work directly benefitting artists, participants, audiences, and those who contribute to Shropshire Council’s priorities, whose programmes have been impacted by coronavirus.

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture, leisure, communications and waste, said:

“There is a wealth of evidence out there demonstrating the positive impact arts and creativity has on people’s mental health and wellbeing.

“This funding will help support Shropshire’s arts sector to deliver a countywide, accessible programme of activity, which we need more than ever at the moment to bring people a glimmer of positivity.”

Through the grants, Shropshire Council want to support a broad range of exemplar, exciting and inclusive activity, which is happening through online and digital platforms.

The work should be developed with the aspiration that it will offer all sections of the community new experiences where possible, and ensure equality of access, enabling 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 council area) between late May 2020 and November 2020.

For a copy of the grant guidance and criteria, and the application form, please go to – https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/arts-and-festivals/shropshire-council-emergency-arts-grants-2020/

Deadline for applications is midday on Tuesday 5 May 2020.

Decisions during the week of Monday 18  May 2020.

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

Please follow the Government’s coronavirus guidelines and stay safe.

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