2020 Culture Fund: Round One Announcement

THE BRENT 2020 TEAM HAVE ANNOUNCED THE FIRST PROJECTS TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE 2020 CULTURE FUND

A grant programme for local people and organisations to lead their own cultural activities as part of Brent’s year as London Borough of Culture, the 2020 Culture Fund offers grants of up to £3,000 for individuals and grants of up to £10,000 for organisations.

This is the first of three rounds of funding, with successful applicants selected by a community panel. The first 13 projects to receive funding, comprising two individuals and 11 organisations, are:

BOLDER NOT OLDER
A programme of free dance classes for adults aged 65+, taking place in Brent’s care homes, sheltered accommodation and community centres, produced by DanceWest.

BRENT UK UNSIGNED FESTIVAL
The Brent UK UNSIGNED Festival will enable local communities to be represented, in performance and exhibition, across different cultural and contemporary art forms. Organised by SABA.

CULTURE CLICK
This project will engage and document the local community through a new photography series led by Skylight Brent, the local homelessness charity run by Crisis UK.

THE HARLESDEN & WILLESDEN PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVE
A comprehensive, largely unseen archive of photographs, made by Roy Mehta, documenting life in Brent in the late 1980s and early 1990s which will be curated and displayed in an exhibition at the Library at Willesden Green.

THE HOUSE OF LIFE
The House of Life is inviting artists to respond to the extraordinary history of the 21-acre Willesden Jewish Cemetery and create new experiences for people from all backgrounds to enjoy.

LEAP INTERGENERATIONAL ARTS
A series of community outreach projects which will see primary schools, day-care centres and artists work together to produce a creative project, from exhibitions and recordings to live performance.

A LIFETIME’S WORK
A photography project by Jude Wacks documenting local businesses around Brent, celebrating the history, entrepreneurship and community contribution of family firms across the borough.

MAPPING BRENT BACK AT KILN THEATRE
A Kiln Theatre community outreach project working with young people from every corner of the borough, giving them a platform to tell their stories, showcase their talents, and participate in the transformative power of theatre.

ST MICHAELS AND ALL ANGELS STEEL ORCHESTRA
Come and watch a group of talented young steel pan players from St Michaels and All Angels steel orchestra performing an eclectic mix of classical, soca, reggae and pop music – all the best tunes from Mozart to Stevie Wonder! Performances in Stonebridge and Harlesden.

OTHER CINEMAS
A curated programme of screenings and events, delivered by Other Cinemas, showcasing filmmakers of colour, as well as films that speak to the experiences of Brent’s diverse communities.

QUEER EAST FILM FESTIVAL
The QEFF brings East and Southeast Asian LGBTQ+ cinema to London, with a fortnight of screenings and events beginning in April. Find out what it means to be Asian and queer today from the unheard voices of storytellers, activists, academics, and those who dare to challenge social norms, history, and the law.

SLAM FOR BRENT
A programme of slam poetry and spoken word workshops for young people, led by The Poetry Society and professional slam poets, culminating in a public performance.

20:20 YOUTH RADIO
A new two-hour fortnightly radio programme run by Bang Edutainment that aims to provide skills training to the young people of Harlesden, whilst also providing a forum for cultural issues to be discussed. Artists, creatives, community groups and cultural organisations based or working in Brent are invited to apply for funding. The 2020 Culture Fund will support cultural activities of all shapes and sizes and across all art forms.