LOCAL theatres, museums and festivals are among 40 organisations set to receive more than £13m from the latest round of Greater Manchester’s Culture Fund, boosting arts, culture and creativity across the city-region.
This year’s recipients range from world-renowned cultural institutions to small publishers, and from major festivals to local dance companies. They also reflect a growing recognition of the role that arts, culture and creativity can play in the vibrancy and economic prosperity of our places and the good health and wellbeing of our people.
Among the successful applicants for grants from the Culture Fund, totalling £13,275,000, are a number of organisations receiving grants for the first time. They include Headspace Bolton, an arts group run by and for people with lived experience of neurodiversity; Salford-based music and talent festival Sounds From The Other City; Portraits of Recovery, a visual arts company in Oldham working with people affected by addiction to drugs and alcohol; and GRIT Studios in Stockport, which provides affordable community co-working spaces for artists.
The funding has been awarded through the Spirit and Sustain strands of the Culture Fund, which are collectively designed to support important organisations in Greater Manchester’s cultural landscape and those with both local and international impact.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“Greater Manchester’s cultural pedigree speaks for itself. This is the home of pioneering music, art, and creativity with a social conscience. While we celebrate that world-famous heritage, we also need to champion innovation and support new talents to break through and make their mark.
“That’s what the Culture Fund is all about, and I’m pleased to see that this year’s cohort – which includes music festivals, museums, and community spaces – captures that breadth and depth of cultural excellence in Greater Manchester.
“Culture and creativity are major economic assets for our city-region, attracting visitors from across the country and around the globe. They also help shape communities and provide an outlet for us to express our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, which is why the Culture Fund is putting a new focus on organisations and projects concerned with physical and mental health and wellbeing.”
