Gosport's first creative grants are announced

Five awardees have received grants ranging from £500 - £1500 to deliver a series of creative projects across Gosport as part of Historic England's HSHAZ Cultural Programme.

Following an online application, a panel made up of community representatives assessed the projects to look at how they met a number of criteria, such as response to a local need or opportunity, deliverable outcomes, timescales and value for money.

The final five projects for 2021/22 are:

• Splodge Designs and VoluntHeroes (GVA) - Plastic Fantastic! Recycle and Create
• Loud and Proud - Gosport Memories
• Isabel Hurley Art - Past to Present
• Bridgemary School - Maritime Project Design Enterprise
• Gosport Discovery Centre - Why is Gosport Great?

Isabel from Isabel Hurley Art said: "I'm absolutely delighted that the Past to Present project has been selected for a creative grant; as an artist I believe that art should be accessible to everyone in our community. This project will help those facing barriers to being creative to connect with the history of Gosport through museum objects and art workshops."

The Gosport Cultural Consortium (GCC) forms part of Gospot Borough Council's High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), which is a four year project to revitalise, repair and enhance Gosport's historic high streets through art, restoration, cultural and community engagement initiatives.

Jointly funded by GCC and HSHAZ, the creative grant scheme will open again next year with another round of grants available for groups and individuals. Any type of creative project can be supported, from events and performances through to artworks and exhibitions, providing they have a public outcome, where the community can be involved either in the development of the project or the enjoyment of the final piece.

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."

Led by charity 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.

You can find out more about the GCC projects 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