News More art grants available for Creative Communities

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is inviting applications for the latest round of Creative Communities Grants. This is the third round of funding that the Council has been able to offer art and creative groups in Maidstone.

The grants are to help support events and activities which encourage arts engagement and community cohesion in Maidstone town centre and are aimed at creative individuals and arts groups within the borough.

The Council is inviting art groups and individuals to apply for between £500 up to £2,000 before 30 June 2023.

Cllr Claudine Russell, MBC Lead Member for Leisure and Arts said:

These are the third Creative Community Grants that we have been able to offer to arts groups in Maidstone to apply for. They are funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and in this latest round we have £13,000 to give away subject to a successful application bid.

I am thrilled at how many applications we have previously received, with a huge variety of projects being proposed, each bringing dance, music, drama or visual arts to Maidstone.

One of the previous successful applicants recently provided street entertainment at the Maidstone Fringe Festival, Harmony Community Arts Centre. A charity dedicated to offering community arts, theatre, music and activities based in Mangravet Avenue.

Zoe Sparkle manages Harmony and applied for the grant, she said:

We were really delighted to receive this grant and be able to help support the Fringe Festival. It was a great weekend, our street art performances attracted more than 200 people.

It was clear to see that there were lots of happy people in the street, dancing and singing along and children having their faces painted over the two days. It was so lovely to be able to offer this for free.

Zoe continued:

We also brought along three youth volunteers who worked all weekend and learnt skills such as stage building, fabric decoration, crew hospitality and also got talking to the public to help build their confidence.

Claudine continues:

I would urge any creative individuals or groups to apply for a grant. It is great to see the amount of amazing creative arts talent we have in Maidstone and I am really looking forward to seeing the projects that will come out of this next round of funding from these community grants.

This third round of MBC Creative Communities Grants will be awarded on Monday 14 August 2023 when monies will be allocated according to the appropriateness of the application.

Creative Communities Grant application criteria:

Who can apply: Individual artists and creatives, community groups and cultural organisations located in the borough of Maidstone.

There are four key priorities for the Creative Communities Grants:

• Increasing pride in our borough and its communities
• Increasing participation/engagement in arts and cultural activities; working with diverse audiences
• Supporting new and existing creative talent in the borough
• Promoting the benefits of arts and culture to our society, economy, health and wellbeing

The deadline for this round of funding closes 30 June 2023.

• Total fund available: £30,000 per annum
• Grant range available to apply for: £500 - £2,000

Further details about the grants and a link to the online application form can be found at:  https://arts.maidstone.gov.uk/home/funding

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