Revoluton Arts secure further investment from Arts Council England to deliver our work through to 2025!

Arts Council England has today announced that a total of £38.3 million will be invested in Creative People and Places projects over the next three years - made possible thanks to National Lottery players - to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences in areas across England where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average.

‘This is great news for Revoluton and our community partners in Luton. We can't wait to spark new work and new ideas that come directly from our community and are beyond thrilled that this investment will enable us to continue to bring world-class creative work right into the heart of Luton's communities...it's going to be a Revolutonary Adventure.' Jenny Williams, Artistic Director / CEO

Since 2012, Creative People and Place projects have brought together community, grassroots, and cultural organisations as partners to take the lead in choosing, creating, and taking part in arts and cultural activities that their local communities want and need.

Up until 2021, there were over 7.4million people engaging with Creative People and Places projects, 83% of which involved people that do not regularly engage with arts and culture. The far-reaching impact of the programme continues through enabling over 17,404 volunteers and over 1000 local partners to take part - including a haulage firm, a rugby club and several housing associations - all helping to put creativity at the heart of local communities.

This new round of funding, means that every National Lottery ticket purchase contributes to more villages, towns, and cities up and down the country being able to thrive through a collaborative approach to culture - from Wigan to Walsall, from Rochdale to the New Forest, and from Boston to Basildon.

A total of 39 Creative People and Places projects, 11 of which are brand new, will be supported covering 56 local authority areas, taking total investment for the period between 2022 and 2025 to £38.3million, and total investment rising to £108million since inception of the programme in 2012 up to 2025.

Among the new projects for 2022 are ‘Culture in Common’ in New Forest, a community driven project inspiring and enabling the district's communities to enjoy and create their own artistic opportunities; Staffordshire Moorlands programme 'Outside', which will deliver activities rooted in local life and will encourage learning about how to boost arts and culture within rural settings; and ‘Down to Earth’ in Wigan which enables residents to shape and create art, focussing upon local green spaces as sites for cultural engagement.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:

"Everyone, no matter where they are from, should be able to experience arts and culture. The fantastic Creative People and Place projects help make culture more accessible and strengthen bonds in local communities. I'm delighted that this £38.3 million funding will make sure more people across the whole of England have access to brilliant cultural and creative activities on their doorsteps."

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said:

“These projects change villages, towns and cities for the better, helping people to lead happier, healthier lives. Our new investment means more people in more places across England will benefit from that magical spark of possibility, innovation and invention that only happens when culture and creativity becomes part of their daily lives.”

Photos by Alex Warchol