More than 100 creative projects have been funded across North East Lincolnshire now, thanks to funding from Arts Council England, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, so we’re taking a few minutes to shine a spotlight on the wealth of creative talent and heritage that exists in the region alongside celebrating the 30th birthday of the National Lottery!
Bloom in creative work
Since the middle of last year (2023), when Create North East Lincolnshire picked up the reigns from the original Grimsby Creates project, more than half a million pounds, funded partly through National Lottery players, has been spent on creative projects in the area!
If you’ve been out and about or taken part in creative activities over the last year, chances are, you’ll have taken part in something that’s been funded through the National Lottery!
Here’s just a short list of some of the projects funded through the National Lottery: Edible Grimsby, Festival of the Sea and Our Future Starts Here and exhibitions at turntable gallery or Our Big Picture, or maybe you’ve had a wander around the Seagull trail in Cleethorpes, been to a poetry night, enjoyed some live music, artistic classes and workshops. There’s been more than 90 other exhibitions, craft days, short films too!
One of the latest works is a mural of a dad and daughter in a poppy field by artist Nikita Spires which has recently been completed at the Willows in Grimsby, the 100th project to be funded partly by Create North East Lincolnshire.
The mural is just one of a diverse range of projects, ranging from children’s podcasts, to creative conferences, one-day festivals, inspirational crafts courses, writing workshops, immersive plays, gallery shows and exhibitions, which have been funded through Create NEL grants since last year.
Enhancing our heritage
Meanwhile, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has been the backbone of the heritage restoration work to the balconies and shop fronts in Cleethorpes, bringing them back to their former Victorian splendour.
The latest project to be completed is the dual shop front project on Sea View Street – with work all but completed this month.
The Fund has also backed the Heritage Skills event in the summer, which was attended by lots of school children, and supported by local heritage and building trades, with hands on activities available for them to try out.
Meanwhile, some of our partners have also benefited from National Lottery Funding. Here’s just a few:
Great Grimsby Ice Factory Trust (GGIFT) celebrated the completion of the Peterson’s Project on the Port of Grimsby, which was made possible in the main by National Lottery players. The Grade II listed Peterson’s Smokehouse on Henderson Street had functioned as a kipper house since the 19th century, when the original building was first erected will now have a new life as a fully functioning fish processing and smoking factory, using the unique cold smoking process that can only take place in a traditional smokehouse.
In Grimsby town centre, the Horizon Youth Zone is being built at West Haven Maltings and nearby land, between Frederick Ward Way and Fisherman’s Wharf. This charity is set to provide a safe, inspiring place for young people aged 8-19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, to spend their leisure time. Horizon Youth Zone will open 7 days a week, offering over 20 activities every night for just 50p per visit, and provide thousands of young people with somewhere, to go, something to do and someone to talk to.
And Linkage Community Trust has been awarded more than £3.5m Heritage Enterprise Grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This will help to preserve the Weelsby Hall for the public to enjoy, as well as expanding provision for training, sensory facilities and develop accommodation for young people with learning disabilities.
National Lottery Community Fund
It’s not just art and heritage, though. Did you know that the National Lottery is also helping to support the “Your Digital Life” programme, through the National Lottery Community Fund?
This programme, running until the end of March next year, encourages adults to improve their online and digital skills, taking them from complete basics of how to switch devices on and navigate using icons, through to support with careers. These free sessions are held every Monday from 9.30am to 12.30pm at Heritage House in Grimsby Town Centre.
Find out more on www.nelincs.gov.uk/adult-education-and-learning.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the Council, said: “Over the years, this area has benefitted significantly from funding from the National Lottery, through various different routes. I’d like to thank the players of the Lottery for helping to make that difference, not just here, but across the country.”
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