Funding awards totalling £15,000 for Shropshire arts groups

Three arts groups have been awarded a total of £15,000 by Shropshire Council to support high-quality projects across the county for 12 months.

Ludlow Fringe Festival, MediaActive Projects and The Hive have each received £5,000, and will use the funding to deliver a combination of face-to-face and digital / online arts activities to be enjoyed by people as participants or as members of an audience.

The reach of the projects is countywide, and they offer exciting and innovative opportunities to young people and groups that have limited access to the arts.

Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, culture, leisure and tourism, and transport, said:-

“We are pleased to award these grants and wish the groups well with their projects.

“The funding will help provide employment opportunities for local artists and support organisations to secure investment from other grants, contributing towards the county’s cultural economy.”

Sue Gainsborough from MediaActive, based in Wem, added:-

“The arts grant from Shropshire Council provides vital investment, at a time when we are more determined than ever to support the cultural and creative ambitions of the county.

“We are delighted to be working with the council’s cultural services team and local people, both young and old, on an array of innovative, creative productions and digital arts projects that will be showcased locally, regionally and nationally, over the year ahead.

“This investment is a vote of confidence, a recognition of the wealth of local talent and vision that helps to build the county’s future as a creative and cultural destination. We can’t wait to get started!”

MediaActive works with local people, organisations and creative practitioners to co-design and produce an innovative programme of special projects, commissions, events and exhibitions which embrace contemporary practice and the creative use of technology.

Ludlow Fringe CIC is an independent arts, community and culture festival staged in the town during June and July.

The Hive is a creative venue and charity organisation in Shrewsbury, running wellbeing projects across the county.

To find out more about the programmes funded and how you can get involved, please email Barry Tench, Shropshire Council’s arts development officer: barry.tench@shropshire.gov.uk