To further enhance Bedford town centre, a series of grants are being made available to individuals or groups with exciting ideas for events or activities to encourage visitors and increase pride in the town.
Bedford Players Trust, on behalf of Bedford Borough Council, are inviting all cultural and community groups to apply for the funding, run in partnership with Bedford Borough Council and Historic England.
It is open to any groups to apply for and is particularly aimed at groups or organisations that might not usually bid for funding.
Funding for events, workshops, activities and installations that bring the heritage of Bedford High Street to life are up for grabs and Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director at Historic England, described the project as a “great opportunity for groups to produce innovative and exciting activities…bringing local communities together and learning more about their past in a creative way.”
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Tuesday 20 December. You can complete an online application here.
The objective of the funding is to support the transformation of Bedford High Street through the main HSHAZ project with a series of commissions to make the High Street a source of enjoyment, learning, community cohesion and civic pride for residents and visitors.
Submissions should promote the High Street’s rich history and heritage, which can be explored through the stories of its buildings and the communities that have interacted with them over time.
The projects funded through the HSHAZ Cultural Programme will need to involve elements of engagement with the area’s heritage, as well as the participation and involvement of local communities.
A similar project – Lace in Place – run by Bedford Creative Arts in 2012, saw enormous panels of Bedordshire Lace adorn the windows of a building on St Paul’s Square.
Councillor Henry Vann, Portfolio Holder for Town Centres and Planning, said: “The HSHAZ Cultural Programme will help bring Bedford High Street’s heritage to life, telling the unseen stories of the buildings that we see every day, as well as the people and communities who have used them throughout the years.
“As part of our leading High Street Heritage scheme, if you have something to add or know a group who does, let them know.”
Sharon De Leonardis, Chair of the HSHAZ Cultural Workgroup, said: “This is an open fund for any and all to apply for funding to support High Street focused cultural and community-based projects. The application is light touch for smaller expressions of interest at this stage so if you have an idea, tell us.
“The committee is diverse, which is reflective of Bedford. The aim is to have more diverse group contributing in the town.”
The deadline to apply for funding is 5pm on Tuesday 20 December 2022. You can complete an application by going online to bedfordplayerstrust.org.uk/haz-cultural-programme/call-to-action/.
