Arts Derbyshire Secure £99,900 from Arts Council England for countywide cultural initiatives

Arts Derbyshire has expressed its collective delight having secured £99,000 in funding from Arts Council England to support three crucial strands of the organisation's work and reinforcing a commitment to enriching Derbyshire's cultural landscape.

The grant will enable the delivery of a comprehensive programme designed to strengthen the local arts ecosystem and elevate the visibility of Derbyshire’s talented artists. The organisation will collaborate with partners to create a spectacular touring environment, showcasing artists’ work at five Derbyshire festivals in 2025 and partnering with two indoor venues in key areas across the county.

An ambitious cross-artform presentation is envisaged with staging for performance and digital capability to present further artworks on site and online. Artists will be identified via open call out, benefitting from the publicity to help them reach new audiences.

At its core, the project aims to provide essential support to artists and cultural organisations throughout Derbyshire. By offering professional development opportunities, mentorship, and resources, the aim is to empower local creatives to enhance their practice and achieve greater success. Workshops, networking events, and one-on-one consultations will form part of this support, designed to address the specific needs and aspirations of artists countywide.

Healthcare providers and community organisations will be among partners to aid the creation and integration of arts-based activities into social prescribing programmess. Building on Arts Derbyshire’s national reputation for creative health work, with a key partnership with public health at Derbyshire County Council, an arts-led approach will be implemented to developi more innovative Social Prescribing practice in Derbyshire with a focus on developing activity where there is currently little provision, challenging inequalities.

Director of Arts Derbyshire, Stephen Munn, commented on the exciting news: "This funding is a game-changer for Arts Derbyshire. It allows us to increase our impact, nurture local talent, and further contribute to our amazing vibrant cultural County."

Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England said, "We’re delighted to support Arts Derbyshire with their New Horizons project, thanks to almost £100,000 from National Lottery Project Grants.  

"This funding will allow them build on the foundations already in place, working with local communities, supporting artists across Derbyshire and enhancing creative offerings throughout the county.”

For more information about this project and the plans for 2025, please contact editor @ artsderbyshire.org.uk