Arts and culture at the heart of Great Places

16 Mar 2017 11:11 AM

16 places across England will collectively receive £20 million to put arts and culture at the heart of their communities.

This investment is part of the Great Place Scheme – a National Lottery-funded programme to ensure that investment in arts and culture also has the biggest possible impact on local economies, jobs, education, community cohesion and health and wellbeing.

It also aims to persuade local councils, civic organisations and businesses to invest in and put culture at the heart of their thinking.

The 16 places to successfully bid for funding are spread across England, including Barnsley, Great Yarmouth, Gloucester and Walthamstow. 

The projects have high ambitions for their local areas. Among other activities, they plan to:

• explore new ways to include arts, culture and heritage in the provision of local education and health services
• research the contribution made by arts, culture and heritage to local economies
• pilot new ways of financing cultural organisations
• develop local strategies that maximise the community benefit of local arts, culture and heritage
• help people working in arts, culture and heritage to build networks and increase their skills

The Great Place Scheme is a joint initiative by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England, using funds raised from the National Lottery.

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