Maidstone Council expands creative grants beyond town centre
Local arts initiatives to receive new funding across the borough.
Maidstone Borough Council is relaunching its Creative Communities Grants programme with an expanded focus, allocating £30,000 to support arts and cultural projects throughout the whole borough.
Previously centred on the town centre, the scheme will now benefit broader regional arts initiatives.
Funding for 2023 will be split across two grant rounds of £15,000 each, with plans for three rounds of £10,000 in 2027.
Established in response to Covid impacts and initially backed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the grants have awarded £120,000 over four years, assisting more than 80 projects and engaging over 12,500 participants.
Councillor Stephen Thompson, Maidstone Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Healthier Stronger Communities, said:
“Creative Communities Grants have already enhanced the difference that arts and culture can make to people’s lives, from helping communities connect, to supporting wellbeing and building pride in where we live.
“By expanding the scheme to cover the whole borough, we’re making sure even more residents and communities can benefit from creative opportunities, wherever they are based. We’re really looking forward to seeing the next round of ideas and encouraging artists and organisations to come forward with projects that bring people together.”
Speaking to us, organiser and Maidstone Borough Council Arts & Culture Officer Ann-Marie Langley said:
"My wish right from the beginning was that it was available to the whole borough, but because of the way the funding came to us from government, it had to be for the town centre.
"But now this new round of funding is being entirely funded through Maidenborough Council.
"So we can basically control better where the money goes.
"And we are now opening up the grants to the entire borough.
"So anyone who lives or works here, or as as long as the project is delivered within Maidstone Borough, then they eligible to apply."
Full eligibility requirements, criteria, and application details are available on the council website. The next round is currently open until July 19th.