Can you help boost creative and heritage projects?

Grimsby Creates crowdfunding scheme is currently supporting 12 projects to try to make them a reality.

The projects seeking funding are based within arts, heritage and culture and include opportunities to support young people in the borough, music and comedy events, sculptures and digital activities.

One project has already reached its target, raising more than £10,000 – Grimsby-based Red Herring Games wanted to create a new free interactive mystery which can be played world-wide for enjoyment and education using the Time Trap in Grimsby as the location. Now thanks to the funding achieved, the plans for the project can go ahead.

And many more local projects are just a few pledges away from becoming reality.

• Live Laughs Lincs – A new inclusive comedy night for Grimsby founded by Lauren Smith, a local female stand-up comedian. 
• Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society want to work with other local groups, such as WE1 and The Great Grimsby Docks Company, to restore and display the iconic “family group” sculpture by Harold Gosney.
• Turntable Gallery want to create a new zine event, with crowdfunding money used to promote it within and around the local area and get a younger audience talking about their work, maybe even sell some to passers-by! 
• 44 local dancers from Grimsby have managed to qualify for Team England in the 2023 World Cup. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the selected to achieve their dreams and perform against 56 other countries in Braga, Portugal. The original target has been achieved, but they are fundraising for more.
• Lowercase theatre group will support young creatives in North East Lincolnshire, as a continuation of our Lowercase Social Network project, providing bursaries, workshops and funding to young people. The original target has been achieved, but they are fundraising for more.

Other projects seeking funding are:

• Grimbarians are raising funds to offer a creative space on the docks
• Heritage Lincolnshire are hoping to bring further legends to life as part of the Viking Festival later this year
• The Great Grimsby Docks Company is looking to create a digital twin of the docks which will let people see digital content from the past that will bring the history of buildings to life
• A Grimsby playwright and actor is fundraising for a specific play about the Grimsby fishing industry called Grimm
• Freestyle Academy is fundraising to provide free music sessions, accessible to all
• Centre4 are looking to create a new community space to offer a programme of creative and educational activities for adults.

Cllr Tom Furneaux, Cabinet member for culture and heritage, said: “This is an excellent initiative, and one that people can really get behind themselves. I know we’re going through a tough period at the moment, and people will really be looking at what they spend their money on, but this is a great opportunity for local organisations to find out what local people want to support.”

The £5,000 Grimsby Creates Crowdfund has enabled creative practitioners, arts, community or heritage organisations to access crowd matched funding and additional grant funds of up to £5,000 for their grassroots creative or heritage project.

On the same platform, other national companies such as Aviva, Sport England and British Cycling are also offering matched funds for other, non-arts projects.

To find out more about the projects, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/grimsby-creates.