Arts Council England has confirmed it will provide an additional £140,000 to support Knowsley’s year as the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture.
The grant funding will be used to directly support four projects that will form part of the year-long celebrations. This includes a community land art project, a young cultural champion’s scheme, a major dance commission as part of a wider sporting relay and a special large scale spectacular event to creatively celebrate Knowsley’s manufacturing heritage.
All of the projects aim to increase engagement and participation and showcase even more high-quality art and culture within the Borough during 2022.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council commented:
“We are delighted to have received this additional support from the Arts Council. It is a further boost to our programme for this year and will enable Knowsley residents to engage with even more exciting and inspiring experiences.”
Knowsley is one of Arts Council England’s 15 ‘Priority Places’ in the north of England. Priority Places are areas of the UK that have been identified as having a significant cultural offer and potential for further development. The Arts Council plans to work closely with partners in these areas on its three-year Delivery Plan (2021-24) to bring in public investment and support to creative and cultural projects.
Knowsley is one of 54 Priority Places in the UK chosen through a set of criteria based on a review of current public investment and opportunities to engage with creative and cultural activity. Each of the priority places are ambitious to drive positive change through culture.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BOROUGH OF CULTURE
To find out more about our year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture, follow @cultureknowsley on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and visit www.cultureknowsley.co.uk.
BOROUGH OF CULTURE
The Borough of Culture title was introduced by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. It is awarded annually on a rotational basis to one of the six local authorities that make up the Liverpool City Region.
The Borough of Culture is part of the 1% for Culture initiative which commits at least 1% of the Liverpool City Region’s annual gain share (£300k) to cultural projects/activities. Established as an annual award rotating around the boroughs, the Borough of Culture helps to celebrate, amplify and strengthen the existing cultural offer, develop new ideas and initiatives that will underpin future development and legacy.
Liverpool City Region is the first Combined Authority to have control over culture in its devolution deal, utilising many of the region’s existing assets and talent to stimulate cultural and creative opportunities.
The Borough of Culture was first launched in St Helens in 2018, followed by Wirral 2019, Sefton 2020, Halton in 2021 and is currently held by Knowsley for 2022. The programme rotation will recommence in 2023 back in St Helens.
