Funding Boost for Swindon’s Arts. Swindon’s arts and culture sector to take centre stage thanks to £600,000 funding boost.
An exciting £1.3m two-year programme of arts and cultural activity has been launched in Swindon.
It comes after Arts Council England’s National Lottery Place Partnership Fund today (12 Aug) committed £600,000 to the programme. It’s set to:
- Establish Swindon as a festival town
- Unlock new opportunities and spaces for arts and culture …
- … and map out progression pathways for people keen to develop their own creativity.
A new not-for-profit organisation, Swindon Culture Collective CIC, will lead the programme. It’ll support the network of arts and cultural organisations known (until now) as the Magic Swindon Network.
Meanwhile, Swindon Borough Council, one of the project’s partners, has appointed Kate Wyatt into a new role of Head of Culture, Heritage, Arts and Special Events. This is in recognition of the important role arts and culture has on the future development of the Borough. And while also directing the Council’s support of the project and providing strategic input.
Swindon Culture Collective
Swindon Culture Collective will bring together the town’s rich and vibrant community of cultural organisations and grassroots activity. It will increase collaboration and visibility of everything the town has to offer. Further it aims to increase arts and cultural participation and inclusion. And celebrate Swindon’s creative and cultural life.
Over 100 local artists and organisations, including Swindon Borough Council, have together developed the programme.
Supporting Arts Council England’s investment are further pledges of £770,000 in cash and in-kind contributions from local partners:
- New Elements
- Prime Theatre
- Swindon Music Service
- South Swindon Parish Council
- Gel Studios …
- … and Network Rail amongst others.
And including £312,000 from Swindon Borough Council from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Director of Swindon Culture Collective
Dr Rod Hebden, Director of Swindon Culture Collective CIC, said: ‘This bid was the culmination of a huge amount of work by artists and cultural organisations across Swindon. They came together to identify the strengths of the cultural sector in Swindon. And to bring the confidence and determination that working together we can achieve much more.
‘I want to thank the Arts Council for their support. Along with every single person who has been working with us so far and those who will help to get the work done over the next two years.’
Phil Gibby, Arts Council England’s Area Director for the South West, said: ‘We’re proud to award £600,000 in Place Partnership funding to Swindon Culture Collective. This marks a pivotal moment in the town’s cultural journey. The investment reflects the shared ambition of local artists, organisations and communities to build an inclusive, creative offer. And I’m especially pleased to see the council appoint a new head of culture. This is sure to galvanise the local sector. It’ll further establish Swindon as one of the country’s leading centres for innovation and inclusion. It’s thanks to public funding, we’re able to support bold, strategic projects like this. All helping to:
- transform public spaces
- improve wellbeing
- develop local talent and open up accessible opportunities for all. I look forward to hearing about the positive benefits this programme brings residents and businesses for many years to come.’
Gratitude to partners
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: ‘This is an exciting day for Swindon. We have a thriving and impressive art community in the town, with a breadth of talent, artforms and events that never fails to inspire me.
I’m grateful to our partners in Arts Council England for recognising Swindon’s excellence. And for committing such significant funding to such a brilliant programme. Swindon’s arts community have and will continue to shape the work. We hope it will help bring our existing arts offer to new audiences and increase residents’ engagement with the arts.
‘As a council we’re committed to the life-enhancing power of art. And we also recognise the important role the cultural industries can play in regeneration and economic growth. We have therefore appointed our first ever Head of Culture, Heritage, Arts and Special Events, Kate Wyatt. She’ll lead our work on making Swindon a thriving cultural hub. I look forward to working with Kate and our wonderful partners as we embark on this important journey.’
This is a huge amount of money which I hope will be spent wisely to continue to develop the arts across Swindon. Please dont forget that as well as the many young people there are also many older/old people who may not be so visible but who are heavily involved in many forms of art but may not be part of the main groups.