Dudley awarded almost 1.5 million pounds for community arts projects
A Black Country community scheme has been awarded almost 1.5 million pounds of National Lottery funding to expand its arts programme into Dudley.
Creative Black Country, one of 21 Creative People and Places (CPP) projects across the country, received £1,403,154 from Arts Council England, who fund CPP.
The scheme, which has covered Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton since 2015, works with communities to provide residents with creative events, performances and activities, and will be expanding into the Dudley area with the support of Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Council for Voluntary Service.
Parminder Dosanjh, creative director of Creative Black Country, said: “We are over the moon. Expanding to Dudley feels like a natural step, the prospect of working as a regional programme in the Black Country is hugely exciting and we look forward to local residents benefitting from the investment.
“We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Council for Voluntary Service, who will play an instrumental role in supporting the expansion programme going forward.”
Programmes organised by Creative Black Country, using the 4.5 million pounds of funding they have received so far, include Creative Communities and Open Access, which support community groups to experience the arts and produce their own events.
These events have included Funny Things, a comedy programme celebrating Black Country humour, the 100 Masters campaign, raising the profile of expertise, innovation and craftsmanship, and Desi Pubs, a partnership between artists and pub landlords which reinvented traditional hand-crafted pub signs using Punjabi text.
Peter Knott, area director at Arts Council England, said: “Arts and culture make the places we live vibrant, exciting, entertaining and inspiring, benefitting our wellbeing and helping local economies.
“This National Lottery investment in Creative Black Country will see the team build on their achievements so far, ensuring more people across Dudley and the Black Country can take part in and enjoy creativity in their communities.”
CPP projects focus on areas of England where communities have fewer opportunities to get involved with the arts.
The project in Dudley will run until 2023.
