Creative people and places Basildon awarded £988,036 by Arts Council England

Funding extension puts culture in the hands of the local community

Left to right: Cllr Jack Ferguson, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport, Children and Young People, Basildon Council; John Newton, Principal Basildon College; Rathi Raman, Head of school; Hannah Stacey, Community Engagement Manager, Creative Basildon; Lee Spencer, Centre Director, Eastgate Basildon, member of Creative Basildon Consortium; Rachel Brown, Programme Director, Creative Basildon.
 

Creative People and Places Basildon (CPPB) has received an additional three years of funding as part of Arts Council England’s largest ever Creative People and Places (CPP) Portfolio. CPPB will be working in partnership with South Essex Colleges Group to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences and increase the area’s involvement in arts and culture.

Creative BasildON, the Basildon CPP, will build on its successes over the past five years, through fun and accessible activities like taster sessions, cultural visits, and commissions, helping people discover new experiences and stay engaged over time. Twice a year, Creative Basildon will also bring together local voices to help shape the programme and grow confidence in Basildon’s cultural scene. This is all part of a long-term vision to make Basildon a vibrant place for creativity, where everyone feels welcome to take part.

CPPs bring together community, grassroots and cultural organisations as partners to take the lead in choosing, creating and taking part in creative and cultural activities. CPPs are empowering local people to pursue the art they want, where they live.

This funding is made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Every National Lottery ticket purchased generates money for good causes and enables people in villages, towns, and cities up and down the country to get access to cultural experiences where they live.

Rachel Brown, Programme Director of Creative BasildON at South Essex Colleges Group said “I’m absolutely delighted that Arts Council England will continue to invest in Basildon. Over the next three years, we have some exciting plans that place our community at the heart of everything we do, celebrating our town’s unique culture, history and traditions, to foster a deep sense of pride across our communities”.

Hazel Edwards, South East Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “Creative BasildON continues to show how locally-led cultural programmes can make a lasting difference. Through Creative People and Places, residents are shaping meaningful creative experiences, and strengthening community connections. We are proud to support the next chapter of this important work."

Councillor Ferguson, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport, Children and Young People, said: “This is brilliant news as this funding means that all of our partners can continue to work together concentrating on unleashing creative talents and hosting a range of cultural activity and community events across the borough.

“Many thanks to Arts Council England and all our local partners including South Essex Colleges Group and Creative Basildon for all their hard work to secure this funding for another three years.

“This recognises Basildon as a cultural and creative destination as we prepare to celebrate the borough’s anniversary.”