News Creative Communities Grants available until 30 November

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), is inviting arts and creative groups to apply for funding that is available to them now.

The next round of the Creative Communities Grants is open for applications.  Entries need to be in before 30 November 2024.

Community groups, individual artists, cultural organisations and creatives that are delivering projects focused specifically in the town centre can apply for grants of between £500 and £2,000.

Cllr Stephen Thompson, MBC Cabinet Member for Healthier Stronger Communities in Maidstone said:

“The Council introduced these grants to help encourage arts engagement and community cohesion in Maidstone town centre. We know that one of the biggest challenges in delivering arts events and activities can be securing the funding to realise a vision.  As our funding comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the awards have to support town centre events.”

Designed to create a sense of pride in the area and allow an individual or group to get a project off the ground, the latest round of support funding will be awarded on 18 December 2024.

Kent Arts and Wellbeing has been involved in various MBC Creative Communities Grant projects including Maidstone Sings, Fun Palaces, Public Art and Maytime Medley.

Ken Scott who runs the group said:

“The Creative Community Fund has allowed a whole range of activities that would not otherwise have been possible. It has brought people together, promoted creative community involvement and enabled many hundreds of creative volunteers to realise the importance of their contribution. In the process it has improved community wellbeing and helped sustain the voluntary creative community. It deserves to be recognised and celebrated as a valuable initiative.”

Creative Communities Grant application criteria:

Who can apply: Individual artists and creatives, community groups and cultural organisations located in the borough of Maidstone that are working on town centre projects.

There are four key priorities for the Creative Communities Grants:

• Increasing pride in our borough and its communities
• Increasing participation and 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 November 2024.

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

To see examples of the events the grants have previously funded, please watch the following film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyoqyWmDrd4

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

The MBC Creative Communities Grants are funded by the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

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