Got an idea for a creative project in the Black Country? Creative Connection Commissions are now open
Arts project Creative Black Country (CBC) has opened its Creative Connection Commissions for projects for 2022. If you have an idea for a project in the Black Country you can apply for between £500 and £2,000 to make your project happen.
CBC is an action learning project funded by Arts Council England through the Creative People and Places (CPP) programme to engage audiences in areas where evidence shows people are less likely to take part in publicly funded arts and culture.
CBC works with communities in Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton to explore and develop new creative projects with local people in the places where they live.
CBC has been working with local communities since 2014 and has a strong network of strategic partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors, including a huge number of community groups, arts organisations, artists and creatives across the region.
Its Creative Connections programme supports activities that increase opportunities for people to experience creative and cultural experiences across the borough by bringing individuals together to share new experiences around the arts.
Grants of up to £2000 are available to help test out a new creative idea with your local community or deliver a full project. Projects will need to take place between February 2022 and be completed by September 2022.
Projects can be a digital or analogue solution, or a combination of both. The only criteria is that local people are involved in the design and delivery of the project, and that it reaches people who may not normally have this kind of creative opportunity.
CBC is encouraging creative responses which bring fun, joy and creativity to local people. It aims to support communities to co-create new work that is relevant, authentic and genuinely participatory for people living in the region. It also offers support to help communities develop skills and confidence in building creative and cultural activities.
Its definition of creative and cultural activity includes opportunities for local people to explore their creativity through the performing arts, dance, theatre, music, visual arts, painting, sculpture, photography, design, crafts, heritage, museums, literature, poetry, storytelling, film and digital media.
If you would like to apply for a commission find out more about how to apply and read the full guidance notes here.
Your proposal will need to be up to 1000 words or a video of up to five minutes long, outlining a project idea, with a simple budget illustrating how the money would be spent.
The submission deadline for proposals is midday Monday 6 December.
CBC is holding an advisory session about how to apply on Tuesday 9 November, 5-6pm.
