This fund is aimed at community groups across Stockport and is for one-off projects costing up to £500.

It is designed to enable new projects which provide communities with opportunities to be active and creative in their neighbourhoods in line with the four Town of Culture themes (Stockport Moves, Stockport Makes, Stockport Tastes, Stockport Sounds).

Examples of funded activity might include:

• Projects which get people more active by providing exercise opportunities, including walking and cycling in neighbourhoods, growing food, or trails exploring local history and heritage
• Projects which get people doing creative activities in their neighbourhoods such as writing, making music, making art, community cooking or craft activities
• Projects which get communities involved in celebrating people, places and stories of Stockport and its neighbourhoods
• Projects which give communities an opportunity to enjoy a new type of cultural performance in their neighbourhoods – whether music, theatre, talks or cookery demonstrations
• Projects which encourage diverse communities to engage in cultural initiatives such as Black History Month, LGBTQIA+ Month and Heritage Open Days

Activities need to take place within the Stockport Borough and be delivered by the end of February 2024. There is a maximum of 1 bid permitted per organisation, but groups are encouraged to work collaboratively with others who may be submitting bids to maximise the impact of funds.

Further information on applying for the Town of Culture Community Fund

This fund is aimed at creative practitioners, cultural organisations and venues based or working in Stockport Borough and is for programmes of activity for which funding up to £5000 might be required.

It is designed to enable new cultural and creative opportunities to be developed for audiences and for participants at locations in Stockport. It is intended that these should span a range of art forms, including music, visual arts, craft, food, spoken word and writing. The emphasis is on encouraging individuals and organisations to try something new, to diversify the current cultural offer in the Borough and create new opportunities for residents.

Examples of funded activity might include:

• Providing a series of workshops for residents to develop new creative or performance skills (eg DJing, music, writing, drama, spoken word, painting, crafts, cooking)
• Providing programmes of performance (eg music, theatre, spoken word, digital installations) in new and unusual spaces
• Providing new types of performance that aren’t currently taking place in Stockport
• Developing new exhibitions and showcases linked to people, places and stories of Stockport

Activities need to take place in Stockport and be delivered by 31st March 2024. There is a maximum of 1 successful bid permitted per organisation, but groups are encouraged to work collaboratively with others who may be submitting bids to maximise the impact of funds.

Bids which bring actual or in-kind match funding and contribute to the programming of cultureal spaces and venues will be prioritised.

This funding is no longer available.

We have now announced the recipients of funding under Creative Commissions bid phase 1.

To see a full list of funding, download the document here

This fund, a strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is aimed at established cultural and creative organisations based throughout Stockport Borough and is for developing projects, initiatives and infrastructure that will have a legacy beyond Town of Culture. The projects should aim to strengthen social fabric and foster a sense of local pride and belonging.

Examples of funded activity might include:

• Revenue investment in infrastructure at cultural venues to enable better programming in the future (eg new exhibitions or performances)
• Investment in programmes of cultural activity that become a regular part of Stockport’s annual events programme over a longer term (eg new festivals or recurring events)
• High profile cultural events which give Stockport a profile outside of the Greater Manchester and bring new footfall into the Borough
• Investment to increase the reach and impact of current externally funded cultural projects in the Borough.

All applications will need to fit the indicative outputs set out in the indicative outputs set out in the

UK Shared Prosperity Fund guidance

This funding is no longer available.