Arts and Cultural Fund to support artists, events and festivals this summer

Creative cultural projects and arts practitioners across the county will be supported by ECC’s Arts and Cultural Fund this summer.

Now in its second year, the Arts and Cultural Fund has supported over 60 artistic and cultural projects throughout the county since its launch. During the summer months, the fund will support a range of projects designed to stimulate the wellbeing of Essex residents as well as the county’s economy and environment.

This year a wide range of festivals will benefit from the fund – such as the Estuary, Essex Book, Maldon, Thaxted and various Brightlingsea festivals – as they’ve been recognised as vital opportunities for people to come together and celebrate as a community.

The fund also supports many of the county’s cultural organisations and this year it will back Harlow Art Trust’s (HAT) children and young people’s programme as part of HAT’s 70th anniversary.

A number of the county’s individual artists and practitioners will also be supported by the fund, such as Laura Jean Healey’s underwater filming project ‘After Ophelia’, which encourages emerging female creatives to enter the industry via training opportunities.

Andrew Ward, Cultural Development Lead, said: “The arts and culture sector is of vital importance to Essex which is why we’re delighted that for the second year running a wide range of free and low-cost events and exhibitions will be taking place throughout the summer for the county’s residents and visitors.”

To find out more about the Arts and Cultural Fund visit: www.explore-essex.com/culture/artsculture-fund

A new Radio Drama Festival is coming to Chelmsford thanks to the Arts and Cultural Fund.

Chelmsford Community Radio – which celebrates its 10th birthday this year and which broadcasts and celebrates local communities successes – will be running the Radio Drama Festival this summer, having been successful recipients of the Arts and Cultural Fund.

The project will see Chelmsford Community Radio work with local schools, groups and young people to provide broadcasting workshops and listening sessions, as well as recording a new play in front of an audience. The play will feature on both Chelmsford Community Radio’s broadcast of 104.4 FM and online via their app.

Chelmsford has a long broadcasting heritage due to Guglielmo Marconi’s company making the first transatlantic wireless communication, which was received in Newfoundland, Canada.

Find out more about the Radio Drama Festival by visiting: www. chelmsfordcommunityradio.com/ dramafestival