Over 60 projects supported by the Arts and Cultural Fund

“The £1 million fund over five years was set up as part of Essex County Council’s commitment to supporting the arts and culture sector,” says Andrew Ward, Cultural Development Lead. “Since its launch we’ve funded and supported over 60 projects and have worked with a number of organisations, community groups and creative practitioners.

“With each project, as is with the arts more generally, the creative supply chain has seen a significant number of freelancers, participants and residents benefit from our support.”

During the past two years, Essex residents have enjoyed a range of free and low-cost family friendly arts and cultural activities throughout the county, such as storytelling workshops, food, music and film festivals, theatre performances, walking trails, exhibitions and immersive installations along with much more.

Recently in Basildon, Elevator Arts CIC worked with Kool Karers on ‘Hidden Voices’, a celebration of the experience of young carers which concluded with a public exhibition at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon to mark national carers week.

Further projects that took place during the summer included Korean artist duo, Breakwater, leading a guided sensory walk at Canvey Wick Nature Reserve as part of Estuary Festival, while Harlow Art Trust’s 70th anniversary saw over twenty local schools and youth groups work with artists on ‘Our Community, Our Environment’ which culminated in an exhibition at the town’s Gibberd Gallery.

Other projects included Chelmsford Community Radio launching its first radio drama festival; artist Gemma Garwood created a new earthwork and walking trail called ‘The Deepenings’ at Cudmore Grove Country Park; and in Jaywick Sands artist duo, INSTAR, created an immersive light installation. Finally, on Canvey Island the international photography collective, Magnum Photos, commissioned a photographer to explore the power of visual storytelling through several public workshops.

Andrew added: “We’re proud of the projects we’ve funded and the range of artist and community groups we’ve supported over the years. We’re also delighted at how the Arts and Cultural Fund has brought residents and communities together.

“Whether it is through music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, the combined arts, festivals, carnivals and museums, there really is something for everyone to enjoy and they’ll be more fantastic low-cost and free events coming in 2024.”

Applications for the Arts and Cultural 2024 are open from November 2023. To apply visit www.explore-essex.com/culture/arts-culture-fund. You can also keep up to date by following Culture Essex on Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.