With Calderdale’s Year of Culture in full swing, the Council has launched a £50,000 funding pot to boost events and help more people to enjoy them.
Event organisers in Calderdale can apply for grants of up to £4000, from the CultureDale 2024 Existing Events Enhancement Fund.
To celebrate the borough’s 50th birthday, CultureDale(external link) is bringing a spectacular variety of new events, festivals, activities and initiatives from April 2024 to April 2025, as well as all the known and loved cultural events that make up Calderdale’s annual calendar.
The Existing Events Enhancement Fund supports these existing events by helping organisers to make them even bigger and better during the Year of Culture.
Calderdale Council is funding the grants pot, and the Community Foundation for Calderdale is managing the grant application process.
The Fund’s aims include:
- Expanding the overall impact of events by enhancing what they offer, attracting larger audiences and creating more meaningful and memorable experiences for people.
- Encouraging all of Calderdale’s diverse communities to get involved with the borough’s distinctive culture, by opening up existing events to new groups of people – supporting the Council and CultureDale’s commitment to inclusivity.
- Involving young people in the planning, organisation and delivery of events, helping to nurture and inspire new generations of creative talent.
- Improving sustainability and contributing to the Council’s climate action priority and Calderdale’s aim to be zero-carbon by 2038, by minimising the environmental impact of events and incorporating environmentally-friendly initiatives.
Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Leader, said:
“One month in to Calderdale’s Year of Culture 2024, we’re seeing the borough’s creativity shine bright and people from all walks of life getting involved in events and activities. It’s bringing a real buzz to our towns and places.
“Calderdale is long known for its quirky cultural events and festivals. Throughout CultureDale, we want to help organisers enhance their existing events and bring more joy to more people. We’re pleased to be working with the Community Foundation for Calderdale to offer grants to make this happen.”
Steve Duncan, CEO of The Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC), added:
“CFFC is all about bringing people in the community together and enriching lives. It’s positive news that there is additional money for events to celebrate #CultureDale.”
Applicants could include event organisers or committees, community groups, charities or trusts, community interest companies, social enterprises and public or private sector organisations.
Eligible existing events are those that have been held at least once before, are due to take place before May 2025, can be accessed by everyone, and align with CultureDale objectives such as diversity and inclusion, volunteering, partnership working, skills development, celebrating Calderdale’s culture, heritage and arts, enhancing local pride and belonging, and supporting health and wellbeing.
The deadline for applications to the Existing Events Enhancement Fund is 10am on Wednesday 29 May 2024.
For more information and to apply for a grant from the Existing Events Enhancement Fund, please visit www.culturedale.co.uk/funding-opportunities/existing-events-enhancement-fund(external link)
The Council has raised around £2 million from external grant support to fund CultureDale, including contributions from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Be inspired at www.culturedale.co.uk(external link)
Calderdale reached its 50th anniversary on 1 April 2024. This is the ultimate year for the Vision 2024 for Calderdale. Find out more about it here: www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision
As 2024 closes, the transition to the new Vision 2034 for Calderdale will begin, encouraging local communities to be bold and ambitious about what we can do next to make Calderdale a better place for all.