Coventry City of Culture Trust receives £250k funding to support cultural projects and creative opportunities
Further funding has been allocated to Coventry to help deliver impactful and engaging cultural projects and build upon the legacy of its year as UK City of Culture.
Coventry City of Culture Trust has been awarded £250,000 from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to support the commissioning of co-created cultural projects with a strong social and environmental consciousness.
The funding will be distributed through a series of targeted commissions with underrepresented and marginalised groups and individuals experiencing additional barriers to creative opportunities.
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation contribution will crucially be used to build these groups and the sector’s capacity, so that by transferring learning, resources and networks, and embedding co-created practices, the cultural and voluntary sector is stronger, coordinated and thriving by March 2024.
The first commission to be supported through this funding is Cosy Creative in January 2023, which is a direct response to the cost-of-living crisis.
With Coventry Central Hall as lead partner and the main creative hub, artists and makers will take up residencies both there and at Foleshill Community Centre to deliver four weeks of creative workshops focusing on sustainable art making, culminating in a celebration weekend for all those involved on the 28 and 29 January.
The sessions will provide a warm, welcoming, and safe space for invited and visiting participants and groups to enjoy creative performances and workshops, with food also provided.
Both venues will collaborate with local organisations and groups supporting individuals who are most likely to be affected by the current crisis.
Central England Law Centre will provide rights-based advice at the venues as part of this initiative, exploring a unique, holistic approach to supporting the wellbeing and empowerment of Coventry’s most impacted communities.
Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful to have secured another grant from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. This generous grant will enable a wide variety of artists, organisations, and the community to come together to develop and partake in engaging, entertaining, and thought-provoking projects.”
Moira Sinclair, Chief Executive, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to support the Trust to build on the legacy of Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture, and to continue to bring communities together. This collaborative programme will empower more people to take part in the arts, and strengthen the capacity of Coventry’s vibrant arts and cultural sector.”
