The council is offering grants to help local artists and organisations deliver arts projects.   The Small Grants Fund supports new initiatives, extensions of existing projects, or experiments with new work.

Individuals can apply for up to £500 and groups can apply for up to £1500. The grant can cover up to 70 per cent of project’s total costs.   Recently the scheme has helped pay for public art to be included in the design of a new outdoor play space at Mayfield Children Centre, Tooting.  

Another project will link Battersea Park Library with artist Ian Giles while he spends 24 days living in isolation in the Mojave Desert.  Library visitors will be able to access Giles’ residency through media portal and view his photographs, texts and drawings.   The Off the Wall Theatre has also been awarded funding to deliver an original puppet theatre production for children.  The Kapok Tree will be performed at BAC in December.  

The council has recently launched a new cultural strategy setting out a long-term commitment to encouraging and developing arts and culture in the borough.

Wandsworth’s arts spokesman Cllr Paul Ellis said:
“Art has a unique ability to get people involved and encourage a sense of community. This scheme is supporting some truly inspirational, original arts projects that will enrich the cultural life of Wandsworth and the people who live here.”

October 28, 2009