Arts Organisations

ARTS COMMISSIONING

Westminster Council no longer administers the Annual Review Grants round.

Arts and cultural services are now commissioned through a procurement process to ensure that our resources are targeted effectively and give greater certainty to providers.

Current commissioned organizations, and their contact details, are listed below.

Procurement process

www.competefor.com   is the website which the Council uses to shortlist potential providers and to advertise larger contracts.  To stand a chance of winning contracts from the Council, organizations need to register with CompeteFor.  It features a simple, free registration process, and provides free access to a myriad of opportunities with major buyers from central and local government as well as the private sector.  

The Council has invited a number of potential providers (including existing providers) registered on the CompeteFor website to submit a quote for each of the contracts, which are worth less than £50,000.  To ensure equality of opportunities, organizations registered on CompeteFor may also be randomly selected to submit a quote for work in their area of expertise.

Please note that Council Contracts of larger amounts, between £50,000 and EU threshold levels, will be advertised openly on the CompeteFor website and suitably qualified providers may apply.

For other sources of funding, please scroll to the end of this page.

1. Arts for Skills and Employability

Soho Theatre

Creative writing and literacy skills programme with the Soho Young Company with the attractive offer of Work Experience for Westminster school students from aged 15, Front of House shadowing scheme with a chance of permanent employment at Soho Theatre.  Residents will have the opportunity to be gain accreditation as a member of the production or performance team for the theatre’s Community carnival performance during Cultural Olympiad.

Contact:  Don McCamphill   020 7478 0134   don@sohotheatre.com

Website:  http://www.sohotheatre.com/

2. Arts for Early Intervention

Paddington Arts and DreamArts

A city-wide performing arts programme delivered by two established youth arts services offering termly workshops in drama, dance, singing and media for 6-26 year olds.   The programme offers volunteering opportunities and help with pathways to further education and leadership training for children and young people from the most deprived wards.

Paddington Arts contact:  Steve Shaw   020 7286 2722   steve@paddingtonarts.org.uk

Website:  www.paddingtonarts.org.uk

DreamArts contact:  Graham Whitlock   020 7266 8260   graham@dreamarts.org.uk

Website:  www.dreamarts.org.uk

Serpentine Gallery

Film project, workshops, family days, Serpentine late events and screenings that takes place in South Westminster, inspired by the theme of transition which will address disadvantaged students' fears and concerns about the period of transition between primary and secondary school. 

Contact:  Lee Rodwell   020 7298 1532   lee.rodwell@serpentinegallery.org

Website:  www.serpentinegallery.org

3. Arts for Crime Diversion

Dream Arts in a consortium with Paddington Development Trust, Paddington Arts and Vital Regeneration

A New consortium formed to offer tailored creative services for children and young people at risk that will support the Council’s Your Choice framework to tackle youth violence.   The programme menu will use a variety of assertive, engaging, varied activities developed with referral agencies and lead professionals to explore issues of 'postcode rivalry', 'snitch culture' 'being a man' 'transitions' and young women associated with gangs.  

Contact:  Graham Whitlock   020 7266 8260   graham@dreamarts.org.uk

Website:  www.dreamarts.org.uk

4. Arts and Disability

Pursuing Independent Paths, Action Space, The Showroom Gallery

Pursuing Independent Paths, in partnership with ActionSpace and The Showroom gallery, will deliver an inclusive art programme specially developed to provide young adults with high quality creative experience at their doorsteps.   The programme includes a drama and theatre project, visual arts taster sessions and activities using media such as film, printed matter to reflect on changes to the Church Street neighbourhood.

Contact:  Bill Feeney   020 8960 4004   billf@piponline.org.uk

Website:  www.piponline.org.uk/

5. Arts and Homelessness

Streetwise Opera

Streetwise Opera aims to empower people who have experienced homelessness, through collaboration in staging professional opera productions and workshops, giving a platform for ideas and helping people to re-build feelings of self-worth and confidence. Streetwise Opera produces work of the highest artistic standard and raises awareness of homelessness by attracting a wide audience, proving that opera is for everyone.

Contact:  Matthew Peacock   020 7730 9551   info@streetwiseopera.org

Website:  www.streetwiseopera.org

6. Arts for Health

Union Dance

Recently awarded the Active Westminster Mark, Union Dance provides education in choreography, dance styles, health and fitness for young people aged 16-25 live, work or study in Westminster of mixed dance ability.  Union Too, the youth arm of the professional company Union Dance, will provide regular dance training sessions for Westminster young people at Pimlico Academy, as well as opportunities to be involved in a dance video production during Black History Month and an intensive residency at the National Portrait Gallery as part of the Queen's Jubilee and Cultural Olympiad celebration.

Contact:  Corrine Bougaard   020 7836 7837   corrine.bougaard@uniondance.co.uk

Website:  www.uniondance.co.uk

Westminster Arts

Arts and wellbeing Festival Nov – Dec 2012:  A packed week of live arts, workshops and debate focusing on spoken word, dance, therapies and physical wellbeing taking place at the end of November- December for health professionals, local health centres, service users and arts practitioners with an interest in this field.

Contact:  Beth Cinamon   020 7641 1018   beth@westminsterarts.org.uk

Website:  www.westminsterarts.org.uk

7. Arts for Vulnerable Adults

Westminster Mind

A 12 week recovery programme of creative workshops and tasters tailored to the needs of vulnerable adults not currently in care, supporting them to regain independence and access volunteering opportunities and work placements in professional arts organizations. 

Contact:  Janice Horsman   020 7259 8100   jhorsman@westminstermind.org.uk

Website: www.westminstermind.org.uk

English National Opera

The ENO community choir offers Westminster residents,  in areas with highest single occupancy, access to high quality creative activities and a social support network to reduce isolation.

Contact:  Emily Cook   020 7845 9583   baylis@eno.org

Website:  www.eno.org/home.php

8. Arts for Older People

English National Ballet

Two strands of dance activities for older people that cater for the diverse range of needs in Westminster day care centres and Older People's Hubs. The successful 12 month pilot Dance for Parkinson's programme will continue to offer tailored workshops and Parkinson's awareness tasters led by Parkinson's UK.  The programme will include tailored ENB behind-the-scenes activities in Day Care Centres and subsidised theatre tickets.

Contact:  Danielle Jones   020 7581 1245   Danielle.Jones@ballet.org.uk

Website:  www.ballet.org.uk

Serpentine Gallery

The Kensington Gardens based Gallery will commission a selection of renowned artists, architects and designers to undergo two year-long residences 2012-2014 within three care facilities and one in-home care programme, resulting in participant-led design modifications to the spaces and programmes of care.  Carers in care homes and in-home care will receive training on how to use the arts effectively within their care techniques and processes.  The Gallery runs a public programme of Serpentine Late events community workshops and training.

Contact:  Lee Rodwell   020 7298 1532   lee.rodwell@serpentinegallery.org

Website:  www.serpentinegallery.org

OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING

Voluntary Action Westminster offers practical information, advice and support to voluntary groups. The low cost training courses include How to register on CompeteFor.

Grants for the Arts is the ongoing programme run by Arts Council England to fund arts activities that engage people in England, or help artists and arts organisations carry out their work.

The Film Fund is the production and development heart of the British Film Institute, supporting filmmakers in the UK who are emerging or world class and capable of creating distinctive and entertaining work.

The London Community Foundation primarily supports small community groups and charities in London. They offer funds on behalf of different donors, so you may apply to every programme for which your group is eligible.

Big Lottery Fund - Awards for All England offer grants of between £300 and £10,000 for projects that improve communities, and the lives of people within them. It is for voluntary and community groups, schools and health organisations, parish and town councils.

Art Quest  Opportunities section contains deadlines and dates listings for a huge range of arts and crafts events: including residencies, funding, international opportunities and  commissions.