Harlow Council is today awarding £75,000 in grants to support the artists, cultural organisations and heritage spaces that preserve the town’s past, celebrate its identity and inspire its future.
Backed by Harlow Council and Arts Council England, the Harlow Cultural Enabler Grant Scheme will help local partners reach new audiences, improve creative spaces and give more people the opportunity to take part in cultural activities across the town.
From new creative space at the Gibberd Garden and a community festival at Parndon Mill to young writers finding their voice and SEND acting groups taking the stage, these grants will bring people together and give Harlow’s creativity more room to shine.
The investment comes as the council is moving with pace with the construction of its new Arts and Cultural Quarter in front of the Playhouse. This will include a new live performance venue, a new home for the Gibberd Gallery, a music school, recording studios, an outdoor amphitheatre and a café and bar, alongside improvements to the Playhouse itself.
Together, these investments support the council’s Building Harlow’s Future programme, creating more opportunities to enjoy and take part in arts and culture, strengthening communities and building pride in Harlow.
Commenting on the grant awards, Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, said:
“Harlow has never been short of cultural talent. It’s time we gave it a bigger stage, with opportunities reaching communities right across our town.
“Through these £75,000 grants, we’re backing our artists, our storytellers and our extraordinary cultural spaces. From helping young writers find their voice to bringing communities together through theatre and festivals, this investment will open doors and give more people the chance to create.
“Our new Arts and Cultural Quarter will give Harlow an outstanding home for live music, art and performance. Alongside it, we’re backing the people and places that bring culture to life in neighbourhoods across Harlow.
“Building Harlow’s Future is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about a town alive with creativity, opportunity and pride. These grants will help the people who preserve our past and celebrate who we are inspire a whole new generation.”
Councillor Danielle Brown, Cabinet Member for Culture and Community, added:
“There is so much creativity in Harlow, and these grants will help more people discover it, enjoy it and get involved themselves.
“Whether it’s a young person sharing their first story, someone finding confidence through acting or neighbours coming together at a festival, these projects will make a real difference.
“With new cultural facilities taking shape and local organisations bringing exciting ideas to life across the town, there is so much to look forward to. I can’t wait to see these projects welcome new faces and help more people discover what they can do.”