Arts Organisations

ARTS COMMISSIONING

Westminster City Council Arts and Cultural Services have commissioned arts and community organizations to deliver creative programmes that will address key council priorities, provide excellent opportunities for residents to access and participate in arts and cultural activities, and will contribute to their quality of life.

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

Commissioned organizations for 2013-14 are listed here:

1. Arts for Skills and Employability

Vital Regeneration

Create+ Digital Skills will engage 36 NEET young people on a 3 x 33 hour programme receiving ongoing support for six months leading to a Bronze Arts Award. Participants will have the opportunity to work with real employers and the potential to be offered employment. They will learn the essential digital skills they need to excel in the digital industry, and will receive employability skills support and career signposting.

Contact: Rebecca Ash 020 7245 2261 rash@vitalregen.org 

Website: http://vitalregeneration.org

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 

3. Arts for Crime Diversion

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

Consortium formed in 2012 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, London Print Studio

PIP, in partnership with ActionSpace and LondonPrintStudio, will deliver an inclusive art programme specially developed to provide young adults with severe to moderate learning disabilities opportunities in the performing, visual and auditory arts. 3 strands project - PIP Theatre Group, ActionSpace's Outreach Project and the Disability Awareness Campaign by London Print Studio.

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

Westminster Arts

The successful pilot city-wide Arts and Health Festival returns in November 2013 to raise awareness of arts health and wellbeing to influence perception and increase participation. The festival, with over 100 events, will offer live performances, creative therapy sessions, cooking classes for people with learning disabilities, and a new roundtable seminar for artists, GPs and health professionals, engaging 2,500 people.

Contact: Beth Cinamon 020 7321 2702 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 

8. Arts for Older People

English National Ballet

Three strands of dance activities for older people that caters for contrasting needs required by Westminster day care centres and Older People's Hubs: 1) Dance for Dementia 2) Dance for Health 3) Dance for Parkinson's. The programme will offer Parkinson's awareness workshops led by Parkinson's UK, tailored ENB behind-the-scenes activities in Day Care Centres and subsidised tickets to see ENB productions.

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

Website: www.ballet.org.uk

OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING

March 2013 update: Here is a recently compiled document of funding sources that would support arts projects. They are all up to date as of March 2013. Click here to download the document. 

Westminster Action for Voluntary Engagement (WAVE) Funded by Westminster City Council, WAVE is a new service designed to meet the complex and varying needs of the voluntary sector.

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 British Film Institute uses Lottery funds to nurture and invest in a diverse mix of first-class filmmakers across the UK.  The Film Fund is the production and development heart of the BFI.

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.