Arts Grants Scheme
About the scheme
The Arts Grants Scheme welcomes applications from individuals and organisations looking to produce innovative and engaging art projects across the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and offers grants of up to £3,000. There is a large demand on this fund, so unfortunately not all applications will be successful.
Please note that we have updated our Guidance Document and Terms and Conditions Document. We advise all applicants to read carefully before making an application.
Application process is now closed
Spring round of the RBKC Arts Grants scheme is now closed for applications. The autumn round is scheduled to open for applications on Thursday 13 October 2022.
Arts Grants Spring 2022 awardees
22 eligible applications were received during the Spring 2022 Arts Grants round. The applications represented creative projects from across the spectrum of Arts and Culture including, theatre, visual art and poetry. The Resident Assessment Panel recommended 11 projects for funding and these projects are listed below.
- Personal Journeys Depicted Through The Visual Arts
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Minds United FC/Dr Denise Baker
Visual Journaling project. Using drawings, sketches, hand lettering, doodles, photo’s clippings from newspapers or magazines, individuals can create a highly personal record of their own journey as they undergo and resolve difficulties, struggle with mental health issues, or try to resolve a particular incident in their lives. In this case the project will focus on their personal journey since being part of Minds UTD.
Visit Minds United FC and Dr Denise Baker website for information.
- Finborough Frontier
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Finborough Theatre
This project is an audio walking tour of Earl’s Court, covering ten famous locations where many artists, musicians and poets lived and died. The tour will be dual purpose, so that it can either be experienced in person, but also remotely, allowing anyone with a digital device to explore the geography and stories of Earl’s Court.
The listener will be able to guide themselves around a digital map of Earl’s Court, clicking on the locations to access the relevant information. The order can be altered by the listener, who can also pause or download the contents. It will be completely free to access, and will remain online for at least ten years.
- Green Spaces: A Celebration in Song
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Hannah Sandison
Green Spaces: A Celebration in Song is a project that sees collaboration between young poets, composers, singers and a pianist. The applicant has commissioned three song cycles on the theme of parks in the pandemic. One of the song cycle’s has been composed using poetry written by three young writers who won a poetry lockdown competition and describes their experience of green spaces during the pandemic, and the impact on their mental health. Opera Holland Park have offered their venue for the premiere that is due to take place on 1st July, 2022. The concert will include three singers and a pianist.
- Changing Perspectives
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Jonathan Rees
Changing Perspectives is a fun, interactive, 6-week course exploring how photography can help improve our wellbeing, mental health and connection with others and the world around us. It builds supportive, creative communities who can share their own stories through a democratic and accessible medium.
Visit the Changing Perspectives website for more information.
- Moliere/ Je t’aime moi non plus
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Marianne Badrichani
In line with the celebrations of Molière’s anniversary across Europe, the applicant has developed a new play to celebrate his works and legacy in Great Britain, in the beauty of its original language, French, with English subtitles. Partnering with the Institut Français, the project will offer London audiences 10 performances at The Chelsea Theatre and the Institut Français (11- 22 May 2022).
- For You (Part 1)
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Natasha Langridge
For You (Part 1) is a research and development project to write a site specific play about 17th Century pirates, that will, in future, be performed in Venture's adventure playground before it’s demolished in 2025. The play will drawing from historical maritime research and holding oral history interviews with a group of 12 North Kensington residents who will talk about their feelings of Venture Centre, to weave the feelings of our community into the play and relate this to pirates who saw themselves as freedom fighters.
- The Japanese Tea Ceremony performance and the workshop
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Nishura Ltd
Dressed in a traditional Japanese Kimono, Keiko Uchida will perform the Japanese Match tea ceremony. Audiences will then be invited to take a guest role or host role and enjoy their own performance of the Japanese tea ceremony. They will get to enjoy the calming effect of traditional Zen ritual while coming together in communality after years of being kept apart. This project of wellbeing and togetherness promotes the concept of ‘ichigo ichie’ (each meeting is a once in a life time event) which is on of the main philosophies of the Japanese tea ceremony. Keiko believes that if more people practice ‘ichigo ichie’ society will be kinder and individuals will be happier. ‘ichigo ichie’ is a reminder of time is precious to us all.
- Open Art Market
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Open art Spaces CIC
The ethos of Open Art Spaces is accessibility and art for all and this will continue for Open Art Market, ‘a fun art market for non-art people’. The project intends to be a fun interactive experience for all and promises no art work will exceed the cost of £100.
The market will include 5-6 stalls occupied by Morley College creative courses who will be mentored in how to curate and sell their own artwork, Native Spirit Foundation, an organisation supporting the awareness of indigenous cultures and 3-4 individual artists each having their own stall or sharing in small groups. The market will also include a range of workshops open to all ages and abilities and facilitated by arts professionals.
- Trojans UK 2022
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Refuge Media Productions CIC
Commissioned by the K&C Festival and working with The Dalgarno Trust and the Rugby Portobello Trust, the Trojans UK 2022 project will deliver two months of weekly drama workshops with refugee participants from across the borough. The aim will be to produce a new adaptation of ‘Trojan Women’ with participants’ stories worked into the play. This is the pilot project for a projected two-year community theatre tour.
Visit the Trojan Women Project website for more information.
- Mini Sparks
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Royal College of Music (RCM)
Partnered with Magic Mum’s ‘Stay and Play’ programme and Rugby Portobello Trust, ‘Mini Sparks’ will provide deliver weekly 1-hour sessions in a variety of local community settings. Each session has been designed by the RCM and will be facilitated by one experienced workshop leader and two RCM students focussing on a child-centred approach, placing spontaneous, playful, and creative music-making at the heart of children’s musical learning and encouraging communication through music.
Visit the Royal College of Music website for more information.
- Inclusive Workshop Programme for the Local Community
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The Bomb Factory Art Foundation
The project aims to deliver free, creative workshops for young people in the local community including a week of art and poetry workshops, each led by a specialist workshop facilitator who has experience in their particular field. These artists / facilitators are all from The Bomb Factory Art Foundation and have designed a community programme created specifically for young people, aged 10 - 18. This programme is to be run during the early part of the school summer holidays and will provide educational opportunities to over 50 young people from the RBKC.
Visit The Bomb Factory Art Foundation website for more information.
Please email [email protected] if you have any questions about the Arts Grants scheme.
Contact the Arts Service
- Email: [email protected]
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Last updated: 23 June 2022