Arts Council England is to invest a total of £8.5 million in nine Creative People and Places projects in the North West over the next three years to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences in places across the region where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average.
The new Creative People and Places (2026-29) portfolio marks nearly £162m invested across England since the programme opened in 2012, and builds on over 15,000 artistic and cultural activities which have attracted over 19 million engagements.
This programme is unique because it is designed to empower local people to put on the cultural activity they want, within their community. It brings together the local community with grassroots and cultural organisations as partners so that they can take the lead in choosing, developing and putting on creative and cultural activities that they want to take part in.
The funding is made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Every National Lottery ticket purchased generates money for good causes and enables people in villages, towns, and cities up and down the country to get access to cultural experiences where they live.
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Welcoming two new Creative People and Places projects in the North West, this portfolio will cover 13 local authority districts and seven Arts Council England Priority Places across the region.
The nine projects in the North West include projects across Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Liverpool City Region and Lancashire, each of which will receive a grant from around £750k to £1m, including:
- Heart of Glass in St Helens and Knowsley, which brings together artists and communities across St Helens and Knowsley through a bold, community-led programme rooted in shared spaces and lived experience.
- Everyone Here, which is committed to establishing a long term programme of creative activities and events led by and for the people of West Cumbria.
- Super Slow Way, which will continue the work of the current programme across the four local authorities of Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle.
The new projects in the North West for 2026-29 are:
- The Fabric of Bolton which will weave together the people, stories, landscape and character of Bolton to create a rich tapestry of creative opportunities through sport, comedy, making, music and dance.
- Re-centre in Salford which will unlock the potential within people, reactivate places that matter, and will mobilise and amplify artistic activity and insights across the rapidly evolving city of Salford.
Arts Minister, Ian Murray, said: “Our national culture thrives when communities follow their own ambitions. I am thrilled that this investment directly empowers local organisations, so they can tell the world their story and make people proud of where they live.”
Rebecca Ball, area director, North, Arts Council England added: “The Creative People and Places programme empowers our communities across the North to design and shape the cultural offer on their doorstep. Since 2012 we have seen the transformative impact of these projects on the people and places. I’m so happy that we are able to continue to fund this remarkable programme and I am delighted that from 2026 we will be welcoming four new projects in the North to the programme. I can’t wait to see how this investment will continue to inspire and engage. This programme would not be possible without the support of all the people who play the National Lottery, as it is thanks to them that we are able to fund this life-changing work.”
Image: Owen Peters/Arts Council
