Arts Council England (ACE) has announced that First Art has been successful in its funding bid of £750,000 for the next phase of its programme, allowing it to continue its work in Ashfield, Mansfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire for a further three years.

First Art is part of Art Council England’s Creative People and Places (CPP) programme which is about more people taking the lead in choosing, creating and taking part in arts and culture experiences in the places where they live.

This award enables the programme to continue delivering its programme with a wide range of communities across the four districts, including the Leamington estate in Ashfield, Bellamy Road Estate in Mansfield, South Normanton and Clay Cross.

Over the past three years, First Art has developed a number of events and activities to engage and inspire local communities such as online pizza parties, Sunday Roast Cabaret and Cabaret Curry Night; pop-up cafes, Secret Picnics, Social Clubs, and Isolation Bingo shows.

Amongst these initiatives there have been some standout successes, including:

The Full Shebang Festival in Mansfield town centre, attracting audiences of 20,000 people;

The Everybody’s Home Kit (part of First Art’s Go the Distance Festival), which were art kits produced during the first lockdown, going out to over 2,200 homes across the four districts;

Go The Distance Festival, a festival set up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, delivered in chapters that include online performances, outdoor Secret Picnics, and a community lantern project;

and last summer, The Bellamy Road Festival – a three-day festival in the heart of the Bellamy Road Estate.

Going forward, from 2022 – 2025, First Art will build on its existing work as well as continue to invest in skills and training initiatives such as Bossing It, a cultural enterprise programme; Inside Eye Cinema, an immersive style community cinema, working with local people to create unique art experiences inspired by film; and, Clay Cross Young Producers, where young people are supported to produce their own events and activities.

Karl Greenwood, First Art director, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this news and continued support from Arts Council England.

“This funding will allow us to build on the great traction we’ve made in communities across Ashfield, Mansfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire which in turn is having, and will continue to have, a hugely positive impact on the people and places we work with, highlighting how arts and culture can bring communities together and improve lives.

“There’s still lots of work to be done but we’re relishing the prospect of collaborating with some wonderful people and partners to make amazing things happen, to attract even more funding into the area, and to inspire more people to shape, make and experience great arts events and activities.”

The chair of First Art, Tony Trafford, added: “This is brilliant news for the people of Ashfield, Mansfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire. It means they will have continued access to top rate arts experiences and have even more chances to explore their own creativity.

“ACE’s support for the First Art programme is just the sort of Christmas present we all want to hear for our local communities.”

First Art, a local arts charity, will lead the programme from April 2022 in partnership with Creswell Crags, Junction Arts, Active Partners Trust and Bolsover Together.

More information about First Art and its work can be found at www.firstart.org.uk.