Organisations with ambitious plans for cultural activities in Calderdale are invited to apply for grant funding of up to £15,000.
Calderdale’s Year of Culture (CultureDale(external link)), is being celebrated throughout 2024 and until April 2025, with a programme of creativity and activity to celebrate the borough’s 50th anniversary.
To ensure that the benefits of Culturedale can continue to be felt beyond the Year of Culture, Calderdale Council is investing in a cultural fund, providing grant support for local organisations over the next three years.
The fund will help deliver the ambitions of the cultural strategy(external link), which details how the Council and partners will work together to create cultural opportunities in every corner of the borough, putting Calderdale on the map as a cultural destination.
Local organisations looking to deliver high-quality, year-round cultural activity in the borough are encouraged to apply for grants from the fund, with up to £15,000 available per year, for activities from April 2025 to March 2028.
The funding will support activities which achieve the key aims of the cultural strategy, creating opportunities and inspiring communities across the borough and enabling organisations to fully realise their potential.
The grant application process is being managed by the Community Foundation for Calderdale. Applications are now open, and the closing date is Tuesday 1 October at 10am. For more information and to apply, visit Calderdale Cultural Fund – Guidance for Applicants 2025-2028 – Community Foundation For Calderdale (cffc.co.uk)(external link)
Calderdale Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Scott Patient, said:
“Our Year of Culture is celebrating our diverse communities and inspiring everyone to enjoy and take part in varied events and activities. We’re seeing the borough’s creativity shine and how culture can make such a difference to people’s lives.
“Access to cultural opportunities brings multiple health and wellbeing benefits and our passionate and skilled community organisations and voluntary groups are uniquely placed to reach more people within our communities.
“We want to recognise their important work and ensure that they have opportunities to develop cultural activities and enhance their existing events to 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 Community Foundation for Calderdale, added:
“We are pleased to be managing this fund on behalf of Calderdale Council, allowing more resources to be accessed to promote arts and culture across the borough. We are looking forward to the variety of cultural activities this will create and know it will have a positive lasting impact on our community.”
Calderdale Council has developed a Cultural Strategy(external link) that sets out a borough-wide commitment to investing in and supporting culture. This strategy is a key part of delivering Vision 2024 and Calderdale Council’s Corporate Plan.
The Year of Culture (CultureDale) programme features locally created events, festivals, exhibitions, performances and initiatives for everyone to enjoy from April 2024 to April 2025. It is funded by Calderdale Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Be inspired: www.culturedale.co.uk(external link)