Cash boost for culture in Northumberland with launch of £40,000 fund

The authority is launching its next round of grants from the Northumberland Cultural Fund (NCF) to help support organisations and event organisers.

Nigel Walsh, head of cultural services at the council, said: “We know that many individuals and organisations in the cultural sector have been experiencing difficulties and uncertainty, so as a council we wanted to do all we could to support creative practitioners in creating new work to share, engage and inspire people in their homes and communities.

“The sector has already responded with some great examples of innovative ways of continuing to engage with audiences from making their content available online to organising fantastic outdoor events, where people have felt safe and secure.

"It is important that as as a council we look at ways of further boosting this work and we hope this fund will further support cultural businesses in developing exciting projects which members of the public can enjoy freely and safely.”

The £40,000 fund will support new online digital content and/or socially distanced / adhered to Covid-19 guidance events over the winter (October 2020 - March 2021) as part of a Great Northumberland Winter Festival Programme.

Grants of up to £2,000 will be available.

The fund is aimed at Northumberland groups/freelance practitioners to celebrate the amazing arts and cultural activity for the enjoyment of people across the county.

It is hoped the grants will enable the sector to get back up and running following the relaxing of some social distancing measures.

NCF focuses on projects that are ready to impact positively on the well-being of its communities and supports virtual and socially distanced community participation and engagement. All successful events or online content will be offered to residents free of charge.

Applications for grants open on September 7 and information on how to apply can be found at www.greatnorthumberland.co.uk/fund. Deadline for applications is 5pm on September 21.

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