Decision details

At its meeting of 18th January 2023, Council approved the use of UKSPF funds to fund cultural activities grants. An allocation of up to £100,000 was subsequently set aside for an ‘Arts Trail’. This programme has since been renamed Arts in East Herts. This will be a district-wide programme of participatory arts and cultural events and activities taking place in September and October 2024. A total £44,519 of the available funding has been allocated to date. Another £5,856 from a second tranche of grant funding is now being allocated to applications for a grant for activities and events which have met the eligibility and assessment criteria.

At the same meeting, Council delegated decision-making on all cultural activities grants and contracts to the Head of Housing and Health acting in consultation with the Executive Member for Communities.

Subject to confirmation by each recipient of their agreement to the funding criteria, fund 12 applications made during the Arts in East Herts grants: second tranche bidding window which fully met the eligibility and assessment criteria. The grant recipients and maximum amounts are as follows:
• Alan Davie Awareness Campaign – £500
• Drawing Voices Ltd – £500
• Fiona Martin – £500
• Genevieve Smart – £500
• Hart Studios – £500
• Master Arts Workshops – £496
• Ore Projects – two grants of £500 each
• Quintessence Drama Group – £500
• Simon Cassia – £477
• St James Church, High Wych – £500
• Sue Nicholls – £383

Option 1 - Not fund all or some of the applications listed above. NOT RECOMMENDED because the applications to be funded were eligible, assessed within the approved policy and will clearly contribute to the Arts in East Herts programme and the UKSPF outputs on which the council is required to report to government.
Option 2 - Fund the applications as they meet the eligibility criteria and will contribute to the goals of the Arts in East Herts programme.