CBC receives third round of funding to continue working in the Black Country

Image by Dee Patel of Fantabulosa at Funny Things 2019

Creative Black Country is delighted to announce that we’ll be continuing our work in the Black Country until 2023 thanks to funding received from Arts Council England under the Creative People and Places Programme.

This is the third successful funding round for CBC which will see £500,000 given to the project to continue our work in Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall.

In 2019 CBC was also successful in receiving funding to expand our work in to Dudley.

Following the announcement Creative Director Jenny Smith said:

“We’re really pleased to be able to continue our work to spread creativity across the Black Country.

Creative Black Country’s projects have reached far and wide with hundreds of thousands of engagements over the last five years. We’ve reached communities in all corners of the region and we’re thrilled to be able to continue this important work.

We’ve connected people, community groups and business organisations together to make the most of creativity across the Black Country. We also work hard in the background to inform policy and make sure that arts and creativity is given the important platform it deserves.

During the current pandemic crisis we have seen the importance of creativity more than ever. Our communities have placed colourful artworks and posters in their windows to show solidarity with key workers, we’ve seen new programs pop up on our TV screens to help inspire and seen people take up new pursuits and hobbies during lockdown.

We also had a huge response to our own callout for project ideas and our Creative Connection Commissions are already starting to give people new opportunities to be creative whilst staying at home.

We know the power creativity can have on people’s lives and wellbeing which is why this funding is so important at this time.”

Creative Black Country’s programme is currently funded until the end of 2023.