Forty art projects in Bristol to get a cash boost of up to £5,000

Forty arts and culture projects in Bristol will receive a cash injection this month. They have been chosen to receive funding of up to £5,000 from the Cultural Investment Scheme, which is run by Bristol City Council.

CIP is designed to “develop Bristol as a creative hub” by funding and promoting the various arts, cultures and diverse offerings in the city. The CIP is divided into three areas, one of which is the ‘Originators’ funding stream, which provides between £500 and £5,000 to individuals or organizations in Bristol to run activities and events throughout the year. In total, £185,000 was distributed.

The 40 projects were chosen from a total of almost 140, with some receiving a total of £5,000. The council says the projects “showcased plans for some of the most exciting projects happening in the city” and aligned with the authority’s cultural strategy.

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One project that received funding was “Nouggara: Home of Sudanese Tunes”, which is part of the Sudafest 2024 Programme. Nouggara celebrates Sudan’s musical heritage through workshops led by Sudanese artists, seminars and an exhibition of traditional instruments.

Mohamed K. Sharaf of Sudafest said: “We are delighted to have received the funding this year. Nouggara is a three-day exhibition that brings traditional Sudanese musical instruments to the heart of Bristol. The event will include interactive workshops, live performances and a panel of Sudanese artists to discuss the state of arts and culture in Sudan amidst the ongoing (and forgotten) war in Sudan.”

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‘Scribble and Sketch’, a project supporting over 1,000 children and young people, will receive £5,000. The project offers creative workshops in four areas of deprivation and diversity (Easton, Hartcliffe, Redcliffe and Southmead).

Other projects are adapted for other age categories and different groups of people. The Mount Without Social Club provides monthly performance events for Bristolians over 60, providing entertainment, reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing.

“New Queer Writing” supports new writing from LGBTQ+ residents, enabling 15 people to receive five master’s courses to develop work to share during LGBTQ+ History Month in February 2025. “Elevate Tech Team” will target young women of color to train in developing skills in live calls and will collaborate with The Jam Jar Bristol.

Head of Culture at Bristol City Council, Philip Walker, said: “I am delighted to see this new round of funding being made available to the people and organizations who make Bristol’s unique arts and culture scene what it is. I’m deeply proud of the work the council has done in this area so far and, with the program running until 2027, I’m delighted to be continuing our support for the thriving arts and culture sector here in Bristol.”