• A Donmar production
  • A photo of a Steel Pan
  • An adult and child doing arts and crafts at the Camden Art Centre
  • Actors taking a photo with a young person
  • Embroidery_workshop
  • Group of children and adults doing arts and crafts at the Camden Art Centre
  • Children taking part in arts and crafts
London,
13
October
2023
|
11:05
Europe/London

First round successful applicants of Cultural Education and Learning Support Fund announced

Seven local arts and culture organisations have received grant funding from the first round of Camden’s new Cultural Education and Learning Support Fund.

Earlier this year, Camden Council launched a new fund to help enable local arts and cultural organisations to deliver free learning programmes for children and young people in the borough.

Cultural organisations based in Camden, including museums, galleries, theatres, live-music venues, and creative agencies, were invited to apply for funding of up to £25,000 to go towards activities and programmes for children and young people to take part in, especially for those who have not had access to these opportunities before.

Seven organisations have been awarded funding to deliver programmes free of charge, including dance and art workshops, art visits and theatre shows in schools, to support more local children and young people access and experience arts and culture in Camden.

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Councillor Sabrina Francis, Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture

I would like to congratulate the seven organisations who have been awarded funding. During the application process, each organisation demonstrated the amazing work they do every day for local communities, and it’s fantastic that this funding will enable them to continue this work.

This fund has been put in place to give as many local children and young people as possible the chance to access the arts and cultural institutions we have in the borough, especially those who have not had the opportunity to do so before. It’s so important for young people to learn more about culture and the arts, which not only promotes creativity and individuality, but can support mental health and wellbeing as well as equip young people with skills for a future career. There are two further rounds for local organisations to apply for grants so it’s not too late.

Councillor Sabrina Francis, Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture
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List of first round successful applicants and their projects:

  • Camden Art Centre were awarded £10,000 to support their “Families Programme”, which is a series of artist led workshops for adults and children to work together. The programme provides a free, welcoming, and inspiring environment for families to meet and engage with artists.
  • Cockpit successfully bid for £6,650 to go towards “Cockpit Creative Careers Days” which include visits for Camden Secondary Schools to provide workshops, studio tours and visits with artists and craftspeople to highlight the various careers in arts and crafts.
  • Creative Health Camden received a grant of £15,000 for their “Moving On” project which is a weekly youth drop-in session based in Kentish Town Health Centre with activities ranging from arts, crafts, dance, and music activities. As well as activities, there will be a health clinician available for young people to get free and confidential help and advice.
  • Donmar Warehouse have been awarded £20,000 for their Donmar LOCAL Schools’ Tour which will introduce theatre production to over 1,500 local secondary school students aged 11 to 14 across four weeks next summer. 
  • Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) have successfully bid for £13,000 to go towards a project called “Remix Dance: Bridging the Gap”. The project will provide up to 180 children in Year 5 and 6 from Regent’s Park Estate and local primary schools the chance to learn street dance and enjoy shows at local cultural venues.
  • Scene and Heard were awarded £15,000 for a project connecting children from Somers Town with volunteer professionals from theatre, TV, film and radio. “Playmaking One” provides one-to-one mentoring, supporting children to write their own short play which is then performed professionally. 
  • Steel Pan Music CIC were awarded funds totalling £15,000 to carry out weekly sessions during autumn and spring for local young people to take part in making music using acoustic steel pan and percussion, and to learn about steel pans’ rich heritage and fascinating connection to Camden.

There will be two more rounds for arts and cultural organisations based in Camden to apply for grant funding. Round 2 of the fund will open on Monday 8 January 2024 with a submission deadline on Friday 2 February 2024.

To learn more about the fund visit lovecamden.org/education-fund. Find out more about the successful organisations at lovecamden.org/education-fund-projects.