A new fund has been launched to help individuals, social enterprises, community groups and artistic and cultural organisations prepare for Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture in 2021.
The Coventry 2021 Fund has been launched by the Coventry City of Culture Trust in partnership with the Foundation, who will administer the fund.
There are two streams of funding available for artists, charities and other organisations to apply for.
The first is the Get Ready Fund, with grants of up to £2,000 available, which can support a range of activity to help prepare for 2021.
That could be everything from research, development and feasibility studies through to covering the costs of training or skills building courses.
The second is the Road to 2021 Fund and this offers grants of up to £10,000.
It is aimed at those who want to trial projects which may form part of the programme in 2021, or to develop new partnerships across the arts and cultural sector.
Those applying for grant funding are being encouraged to consider the four themes of Coventry’s UK City of Culture programme – Being Human, Moving, Underground and Reinvention, and to think about how their proposed activity will help to achieve step changes across the city.
Emma Harrabin, the Coventry City of Culture Trust Programme Co-ordinator, said:
“It’s massively important to us that City of Culture is delivered by and for the people of the city.
“Our bid was all about the city’s people – its youth, its diversity and its creativity – and we want that to shine through in 2021.
“The reason for launching the Coventry UK City of Culture Fund is to help individuals, charities and community groups to prepare for 2021, allowing them to research new projects, try new ideas, or build skills and capacity.
“Of course, there will be criteria around applying and what is likely to make somebody successful in their application but we are totally committed to making 2021 a year for the whole city to be part of and this fund can help to support that.”
Tina Costello, Foundation CEO, said:
“We have been proud supporters and partners to Coventry 2021 throughout the bidding phase and now as the city plans and delivers this massive project.
“We work with many businesses and organisations across the West Midlands region in administering funds and ensure money is distributed to the right people and places.
“The Coventry City of Culture Fund is a special one to manage as we can see all of the wider benefits to all of our communities that being UK City of Culture will bring.”
More information and the criteria for applying to the fund is available here.