A fund to help talented Cumbrians develop a career in the arts has been relaunched.
The Cumbria Cultural Fund was established in 2007 and has since supported more than 60 people to develop their creative practice in all areas of the arts, from poetry and painting to stand-up comedy and opera.
The fund is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, which now has ambitions to increase the number of people supported and reach a wider pool of talent.
A review was carried out earlier this year to examine what the fund should be for and who it should support, as well as looking into the wider state of the arts and cultural practice in Cumbria.
The findings were presented at an event at Rheged, near Penrith, where guests were also treated to performances by some of those who have benefited from Cumbria Cultural Fund grants in the past.
The Cumbria Cultural Fund was the brainchild of Mary Burkett, whose drive and energy also helped develop the Abbot Hall Art Gallery and Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry.
Andy Beeforth, chief executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Mary was passionate about backing talented people and giving those who needed help, and who were prepared to work hard, a hand up.”
“This autumn would have been her 100th birthday so we were keen to celebrate her life and legacy, while very much looking to the future and thinking about how we can grow the Cumbria Cultural Fund.
“The fund has helped over 60 talented Cumbrian artists, actors, musicians, dancers, and writers develop their careers and practice but we were keen to examine whether we could do more, and what priorities the fund should have today.
“We have relaunched the fund with the aim of significantly increasing its reach and impact, seeking new donors to help it support more talented young people, from families that might not normally think that art, music and drama is for them and to help more people fulfil their potential.”
The review into the Cumbria Cultural Fund was carried out by Richard Elder, former director of the Rosehill Theatre in Whitehaven. He interviewed organisations and individuals involved in arts and culture across Cumbria, asking their views not only on the fund but on the wider picture.
Following the review, Cumbria Community Foundation has set a new target of making grants of at least £50,000 a year from the Cultural Fund, helping around 25 people each year.
Ambitions for the fund include reaching those with the least opportunities or exposure to the arts; enabling ‘new’ and unconventional work; and supporting those whose work brings greater understanding of the issues of diversity and equity.
Stephanie Bradshaw, a stand-up comedian and actor from Keswick, performed at the fund relaunch event at Rheged.
A grant from the Cumbria Cultural Fund enabled her to perform her debut stand-up show Big Fish at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which reflected on her experience of growing up in Cumbria, chasing her dreams of becoming a successful performer and the challenges of achieving this when living in a rural area.
The fund grant helped cover the venue fee at the Fringe, enabling her to perform at top venue the Gilded Balloon.
She said: “Being part of the Gilded Balloon family was a huge honour for me and helped me establish connections with industry and fellow performers that have already started to benefit my comedy career going forward.”
Stephanie is passionate about showing younger people in Cumbria that creativity can be born out of any story, no matter where you come from.
“What I have learnt about producing live comedy events, including my Fringe show, has been hugely helpful and will hopefully help launch the careers of other fledgling comedians in Cumbria and beyond.”
To read the report into the Cumbria Cultural Fund, or to make a donation to the fund, visit www.cumbriafoundation.org/cultural-fund/
