Grant scheme for local artists and organisations launched as Lewisham prepares to host the Mayor of Londons Borough of Culture 2022
With just seven months to go until Lewisham hosts the Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture 2022, a new grant scheme has launched to support Lewisham-based artists and organisations to lead and deliver their own activities.
Meanwhile, two local charities - Lewisham Education Arts Network (LEAN) and Lewisham Local - have been appointed as partners to empower residents to get involved in the year.
The Lewisham 2022 Creative Change Fund will empower local organisations to play a part in the Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture, which is taking place in Lewisham in 2022. Voluntary and community sector organisations and schools can apply for Seed Grants of £1,000 or Small Grants of £5,000 – and be paired with local artists to lead and deliver their own activity. This could take the form of an event, mini festival or creative session that the local community can take part in. The initiative is funded by Lewisham Council, Deptford Challenge Trust, Lewisham Homes and Phoenix Community Housing.
Funded projects will showcase the rich diversity of creative activity in Lewisham, with applications welcome for projects including live performance, film screenings, street art, creative writing and greening projects to transform neglected spaces. Applicants have until 19 July to apply for Seed Grants and 16 August for Small Grants, with successful projects to be announced in September 2021. A second round of applications will open in early 2022.
Meanwhile, two local charities are set to empower residents to get involved in this important year for Lewisham. Arts education champions Lewisham Education Arts Network (LEAN) will connect with schools as Education Partner, while Lewisham Local are Volunteering Partner and will coordinate opportunities for residents to connect to the programme. They will play a crucial role across 2022 – enabling thousands of local people of all ages to participate in an ambitious programme of events.
LEAN will coordinate opportunities for children and young people across the borough to get involved in the programme, acting as a bridge between schools, cultural organisations and community services. They will recruit a member of staff as a Cultural Connector in every school in the borough to distribute information to staff and pupils. They will also support busy teachers, empowering them to them to become cultural champions, promoting the importance of creativity in Lewisham.
Lewisham Local will coordinate exciting opportunities for local residents to play their part in the year as volunteers, with the chance to learn new skills in the process. They will bring neighbours from different cultural backgrounds together to share time and expertise. The ambition is to build a long-lasting legacy of connecting and giving back, to inspire positive change in Lewisham’s communities.
Cllr Andre Bourne, Cabinet Member for Culture, Jobs and Skills said: “I’m delighted to see the launch of the Lewisham 2022 Creative Change Fund. The programme for 2022 is being developed and created with our communities and I look forward to celebrating the diverse talent, creativity and passion we have here at home in Lewisham. I’m equally pleased to welcome LEAN and Lewisham Local as our latest delivery partners for the year, with their track record of championing creativity and inclusion with fantastic collaborative projects across the borough.”
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “I’m delighted these grants will enable Lewisham-based artists, organisations and communities to deliver some really brilliant creative projects together. It’s a great example of how our London Borough of Culture programme is bringing the very best culture to the doorsteps of Londoners.”
Veronica Jobbins MBE, Vice Chair of LEAN said: “LEAN is pleased to take on the vital role of Education Partner, working with schools and the brilliant cultural organisations and artists in the borough. Our ambition is that every child across Lewisham is involved in some way - whatever their age, background or ability - and benefits from the creative opportunities available to them. We want young people to be at the heart of the programme, their voices heard and celebrated so they know they are recognised and valued.”
Philippe Granger, CEO of Lewisham Local said: “The Lewisham Local team are delighted to be the Volunteering Partner for the Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture in Lewisham. We look forward to engaging local people, community groups and businesses to use their time, skills and creative talents to connect as many people as possible with the programme and showcase what a fabulous place Lewisham is.”
Introduced by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Kahn in 2017, the London Borough of Culture award is a competition that sees London’s 32 boroughs bid for over £1m of funding to stage a programme of cultural events. The award brings Londoners together, putting culture at the heart of local communities to shine a light on the diversity of London’s boroughs.
Lewisham originally won the Bid to be Borough of Culture 2021. Last year, the decision was taken to shift this to 2022, in response to the challenges of Covid-19. Lewisham’s winning Bid was developed with local communities and focused on the borough’s proud history of activism, harnessing the power of culture to create social change. Lewisham Council is working with The Albany as lead delivery partner and has appointed a Culture and Diversity Advisory Forum to feed into decision making. Work is currently happening with local artists, community and cultural organisations to shape the programme, details of which will be announced in autumn 2021. You can follow the Borough of Culture progress on the I am Lewisham website.
Lewisham’s programme will celebrate the diversity of the borough and explore key issues that affect us all. At its heart is an ambition to bring people together, amplify voices and use the power of arts and culture to change lives. The launch of the Lewisham 2022 Creative Change Fund, and the appointment of LEAN and Lewisham Local is central to an ambition to create inclusive opportunities to take part in the year, removing barriers to ensure equal access.