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Funding helps creativity to soar on Newark’s streets

Posted on: Tuesday, March 14, 2023

A cultural programme bringing creative fun to the streets of Newark is delighted to be able to move forward with another action-packed year of fun for all ages, following a successful bid for £87,000 of funding from Arts Council England this year.

Newark Creates, led by Newark Cultural Consortium as part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zones scheme, aims to celebrate Newark's heritage and arts organisations through a series of exciting events and activities.

Plans for 2023, the last of three years to be supported by Historic England funding, are already in motion with a colourful umbrella installation in partnership with the ADHD Neurodiversity Foundation due to kick off proceedings later in spring.

Hundreds of bright brollies will hang above the town centre’s streets in an uplifting visual representation of all the different minds we have locally and across the UK. The display, part of the nationwide Neurodiversity Umbrella Project, is designed to represent the one in five of us who have a neurodevelopmental condition, such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia or Tourette’s syndrome. As part of Newark Creates’ education and outreach programme, they will be working with local communities and schools to offer opportunities to perform during the installation.

Newark Creates introduced the national Fun Palaces initiative to the town in 2021 and will be taking part once again, offering the chance for local creatives to share their talents at this fun celebration of skills from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 October. A meet and greet is being held for anyone interested in taking part in this year’s event on Wednesday 22 March from 6pm to 7.30pm at LetsXcape in Newark. Those wishing to attend should RSVP to sara.bullimore@inspireculture.org.uk.

There are also plans for urban and youth art projects, artist in residencies and more.

Carol Newman, Director of Culture at Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, the lead partner in the Consortium, said: “Newark Creates’ first two years have been a fantastic effort of collaboration with Consortium members including Inspire, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Newark Civic Trust, Newark Heritage Trust, Newark Book Festival, Newark and Sherwood CVS, Newark Town Council, Tree Newark, and Newark College all working together, as well as with external partners, to offer diverse events to varied audiences. We’re excited to get started with our third year and can’t wait for local people to enjoy the amazing creative experiences we have in store.”

To find out more about Newark Creates and to stay updated about 2023’s events, visit www.newarkcreates.com or follow them on Facebook.