City Arts is part of consortium awarded £1.5 million

City Arts is delighted to announce that it is part of a consortium awarded 1.5 million pounds by Arts Council England.  The money was awarded from the ‘Creative People and Places’ grants programme and will fund the “First Art” project.  The project draws inspiration from Britain’s only Ice Age rock art which was inscribed onto the surfaces of the caves at Creswell Crags 14,000 years ago.

“First Art” will bring together communities across Ashfield, Bolsover, Mansfield, and North East Derbyshire with internationally recognised artists.  The result will be an inspiring programme of major arts events that will explore the regions distinctive landscape and stories, which have shaped the area’s industrial, social and cultural life.

Our partners in the consortium leading the project include Creswell Heritage Trust, Junction Arts, The Prince’s Trust and community representatives from the Bolsover Partnership and NAVO. The project aims to connect with audiences from areas with traditionally low arts participation in a way which gives local communities a voice.

Peter Knott, Arts Council England East Midlands Director, said “We were impressed by the innovative and engaging vision of this project. They plan to give communities in North Nottingham and North East Derbyshire a voice in a very imaginative way. The range of artistic opportunities they are suggesting show they have a real understanding of getting great art to people who otherwise might not think to take part.”

City Arts have been doing community based arts projects in Nottinghamshire for some time but we feel Creative People & Places funding will enable us to take this to a whole new level.  Over the next few months, the consortium will be developing the plans in full.  We are really looking forward to working with our partners in the consortium and involving as many local people as possible in some truly exciting arts projects.