Swindon & Wiltshire News
£1.3 million arts and culture programme launched in Swindon
A £1.3 million programme to promote Swindon’s arts and culture has been launched.
Arts Council England’s National Lottery Place Partnership Fund has committed £600,000 to the programme, which will run for two years.
Organisers say the programme will “establish Swindon as a festival town, unlock new opportunities and spaces for arts and culture, and map out progression pathways for people keen to develop their own creativity.”
A new not-for-profit organisation, Swindon Culture Collective CIC, has been established to lead the programme and support the network of arts and cultural organisations previously known as the Magic Swindon Network.
Meanwhile, Swindon Borough Council, one of the project’s 100 partners, has appointed Kate Wyatt into a new role of head of culture, heritage, arts and special events, in recognition of the important role arts and culture has on the future development of the borough.
Arts Council England’s investment is supported by further pledges of £770,000 in cash and in-kind contributions from local partners New Elements, Prime Theatre, Swindon Music Centre, South Swindon Parish Council, Gel Studios and Network Rail amongst others, and including £312,000 from Swindon Borough Council from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Dr Rod Hebden, director of Swindon Culture Collective CIC, said: “This bid was the culmination of a huge amount of work by artists and cultural organisations across Swindon, who came together not only to identify the challenges and strengths of the cultural sector in Swindon, but also with the confidence and determination that working together we can achieve much more.
“I want to thank the Arts Council for their support, along with every single person who has been working with us so far and those who will help to get the work done over the next two years,” he said.
Phil Gibby, Arts Council England’s Area Director for the South West, said: “We’re proud to award £600,000 in Place Partnership funding to Swindon Culture Collective, marking a pivotal moment in the town’s cultural journey.
“This investment reflects the shared ambition of local artists, organisations and communities to build an inclusive, creative offer and I’m especially pleased to see the council appoint a new Head of Culture, sure to galvanise the local sector and further establish Swindon as one of the country’s leading centres for innovation and inclusion.
“It’s thanks to public funding, we’re able to support bold, strategic projects like this — helping to transform public spaces, improve wellbeing, develop local talent, and open up accessible opportunities for all.
“I look forward to hearing about the positive benefits this programme brings residents and businesses for many years to come.”
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for placemaking and planning, said: “We have a thriving and impressive art community in the town, with a breadth of talent, artforms and events that never fails to inspire me.
“I’m grateful to our partners in Arts Council England for recognising Swindon’s excellence and committing such significant funding to a truly brilliant programme.
“The work was and will continue to be shaped by Swindon’s arts community. We hope it will help bring our existing arts offer to new audiences and increase residents’ engagement with the arts.”
Image courtesy of Create Studios
