East Durham Creates, in partnership with East Durham Trust, has announced that the Let’s Create Arts Commissioning Scheme is back for a fourth round of funding.
The deadline for applications is Friday 17th June.
Launched in August 2015, Let’s Create was set-up to support local projects involving artistic or creative activities that aim to increase participation in East Durham.
There have been three funding rounds to date, awarding 17 out of 26 submitted projects financial support from £500 to £2,500. This has helped local groups, venues and arts organisations test out new ideas and build on the provision that already exists in the locality.
One of the many success stories is Comunidad de Naividad, a multi cultural Latin American inspired arts event based in the Blackhall area, produced by Jack Drum Arts and Blackhall Community Association. International artists were invited to create new work for a stunning carnival style parade, including lanterns, stilt walking, costumes/puppets, new music and craft workshops. The project culminated in a large scale outdoor event, which coincided with Blackhall’s Christmas community event and actively engaged over 800 people.
As a Creative People and Places project funded by Arts Council England, East Durham Creates commissioned Let’s Create to assist in their aims to get more people engaged in arts and creative activity.
As a lead partner, East Durham Trust is managing the scheme and working to combat disadvantage in former Colliery communities through a wide range of initiatives from food parcels and debt management to arts on prescription.
Malcolm Fallow, Chief Executive Officer, East Durham Trust said: “The additional round of funding is a welcome boost for the area – as the previous rounds have shown this is a great opportunity for local groups to engage people in the Arts.”
