Cash boost for creative arts in Gosport

Thanks to funding from Historic England and Gosport's High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), each year, for the next three years, GCC will be offering community groups, artists and individuals the opportunity to apply for creative grants worth up to £1,500 to put on events and performances in Gosport.

"The idea behind the scheme is to help bring footfall to Gosport, along with offering local residents a programme of great performances, exhibitions, workshops and public art that can be enjoyed by all" said Rebekah Jeffery, head of cultural hubs at Hampshire Cultural Trust, the lead partner for Gosport Cultural Consortium.

Emily Gee, regional director, Historic England in London and the South East, said: "This is a great opportunity to be part of an exciting cultural programme welcoming people back to the high street. Community-led events have the power to enliven the town centre and inspire people's love of their area, and offer a chance for visitors to see all that Gosport has to offer."

Cllr Stephen Philpott, chair of the economic development board for Gosport Borough Council added: "We're delighted that the council's HSHAZ is able to support Gosport's Cultural Consortium by match funding the creative grants available for local residents. The grants will allow us to support and showcase the talent we have in the area and build upon Gosport's cultural initiatives. We look forward to seeing the projects come to fruition". 

Any type of creative project can be supported, from events and performances through to artworks and exhibitions, but projects must have a public outcome and be completed by June 2022. All applications will be assessed by a community panel and successful applications will be announced by the end of September 2021.

Led by Hampshire Cultural Trust, Gosport Cultural Consortium consists of representatives from Bridgemary School, Gosport Heritage Open Days, Gosport Discovery Centre, Gosport Voluntary Action, Gosport U3A and the Gosport Diving Museum.

Last month, the consortium were awarded a £100,000 grant from Historic England as part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programme.

You can find out more about GCC and apply for a creative grant at: www.gosporthaz.org.uk/GCC

Notes to editors:

High Streets Heritage Action Zones' Cultural Programme

The £7.4 million Cultural Programme is part of the £95 million High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, which is currently working across over 60 English high streets. It is funded with £40 million from the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport's Heritage High Street Fund, £52 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Future High Streets Fund, and a further £3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Cultural activity funded by the local grants scheme will take place over the next three years, in tandem with the national commissions organised by Historic England. For the national commissions, artists will work with communities and co-produce artworks inspired by England's changing high streets. Together, the local grants scheme and the national commissions make up the Cultural Programme.

To find out what is happening in your area and get involved, please follow @HistoricEngland / #HistoricHighStreets and visit: www.HistoricEngland.org.uk/HighStreetCulture

About Historic England

We are Historic England the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England's spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we've come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories these places tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all.

About National Lottery Heritage Fund

Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK's heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund