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CultureStep News July 2024

This July, the CultureStep Panel met to deliberate the applications received for the second meeting of 2024/25.

Six investments were confirmed, all of which will help to strengthen and sustain innovative partnerships between business and the arts. They are:

  • North Wales International Music Festival (NWIMF) & Pendine Park Care Organisation. In a partnership established in 2011, Pendine Park is again the headline sponsor for the 2024 North Wales International Music Festival. This year, the business has increased its financial support to enable The Pendine Young Musician of Wales Competition, NWIMF’s first musical competition for young Welsh performers. CultureStep is increasing the reach of the partnership by contributing to interactive Community Tour performances, including dementia-friendly and inclusive BSL-interpreted concerts, an arts project for young people and a music and arts project for children and older people living with a disability.
  • Benjamin C Dearnley & Cartrefi Conwy. Through an A&B Cymru Brokerage, Cartrefi Conwy has commissioned artist Benjamin Dearnley to create a series of public artworks on its Abergele Western Gateway Development, engaging the communities adjacent to the site in stone carving workshops. During the sessions, Ben will collect participants’ ideas for the words of local poets to be carved into a series of sculptures, depicting local history and inspiring anyone using the space. CultureStep is strengthening and extending the partnership by funding the poet’s fee, as well as contributing to the artist’s fee and the cost of purchasing the stone for the final artwork.
  • Cwmni Frân Wen & Dŵr Cymru. In a new partnership, Dŵr Cymru is supporting Cwmni Frân Wen to deliver its creative Welsh language Olion project, reaching up to 1,000 people from under-represented communities in Hirael, Bangor and beyond. Participants will include carers, individuals with mental health problems, asylum seekers and young people not in education, training or work. CultureStep is expanding the partnership by funding freelance artists to deliver eight engagement sessions to collaborate with community members to develop family activities for Frân Wen’s arts festival.
  • The Other Room (TOR) & Draycott Group. In a new partnership, Draycott Group is supporting The Other Room through the in-kind provision of a three-month tenancy of Harlech Court. This allows TOR to revive its production of Baba Joon, a portrayal of one man’s experiences of arriving in Wales from Iran in the 1970s and his daughter’s navigation through the joys and complexities of being from a mixed heritage family living in South Wales. CultureStep is supporting the partnership by funding the artists’ fees.
  • National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales) & Goodson Thomas. In its first year of partnership, Goodson Thomas has been named NDCWales’ business champion, through its support of its Young Associates Programme. CultureStep is funding a Young Associates activity programme across Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and RCT, engaging 80 young dancers in taster sessions and encouraging applications for the Young Associates Programme.
  • Hijinx & Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru. In a new partnership, ADSS Cymru has commissioned Hijinx to enhance its National Social Care Conference in October 2024. The theatre company will demonstrate how creative arts can enrich the lives of people with learning disabilities to over 100 social care leaders from across Wales. CultureStep is strengthening the partnership by funding an event host and two Hijinx actors to introduce a panel discussion and share their lived experiences, as well as contributing to the costs of two performances – one by the Astronauts’ and one by the interactive band, Vaguely Artistic.

 

So far this financial year, CultureStep has invested almost £39K in 14 partnerships, levering almost £155K from business directly to the arts.

Arts partners may apply for up to £1 from CultureStep for every £2 invested by the business partner. Find out more CultureStep – Arts & Business Cymru (aandb.cymru)

The next deadline is 26 September 2024. If you are interested in making an application, please get in touch at contactus@aandbcymru.org.uk