Arts Council England is hoping that the launch of a new website will lead to more people to become inspired to be active participants in the arts.
£37 million has been invested in a small number of locations of greatest need to establish action research partnerships called 'Creative People and Places'.
Aim
The aim is to focus investment in parts of the country where people's involvement in the arts has been significantly below the national average.
Arts Council England believes that everyone has the right to access the arts and wants to transform the opportunities open to people in these places.
This investment is encouraging long-term collaborations between local communities and arts organisations, museums, libraries and other partners including local authorities and the private sector.
Vision
The ten year 'vision' hopes to empower them to experiment with new and radically different approaches and to develop inspiring, sustainable arts programmes that will engage audiences in their communities.
As part of the new scheme, one such area that will benefit is that of Bolsover, North East Derbyshire, Ashfield and Mansfield Districts, which thanks to immense amount of hard work have been awarded £1.5 million for their project entitled 'First Art'.
First Art
'First Art' is now starting to deliver on its extensive business plan and will be offering for the life span of the project, grant awards to local groups — including brass bands — to enable them to work with artists, perhaps for the first time.
There are two schemes available which are aimed at local groups and organisers and are designed to remove the red tape often encountered when applying for funding.
Funds
The first scheme can access funds up to £250, with the second up to £2,000 depending on the criteria that is met.
For instance, under 'Scheme 1' bands could apply for funding to work with an artist in a workshop or a creative project, whist 'Scheme 2' awards will be made for investment in new arts activity within existing arts events/ arts festivals.
one such area that will benefit is that of Bolsover, North East Derbyshire, Ashfield and Mansfield Districts, which thanks to immense amount of hard work have been awarded £1.5 million for their project entitled 'First Art'4BR
Want to fund
A spokesperson told 4BR: "Awards will be available to community organisations who share 'First Art's' vision, who are based in the 'First Art' area and whose work benefits the people of those areas.
First Art particularly want to fund projects that can grow to be a sustainable part of an arts events programme in the area and they want to see how applicants can demonstrate this within their evaluation."
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