Community groups in Coventry have until March 29 to apply for up to £8,000 to support creative projects and events in collaboration with a historic city attraction.
St Mary’s Guildhall, which is operated by No Ordinary Hospitality, has called for organisations to apply for help to bring their performance, exhibition and workshop ideas to life through the next round of its Community Grants programme.
The 14th century venue has already teamed up with five community groups in the first round of awards, which included a multicultural ball featuring traditional music and dance from across the world bringing dozens of visitors together in the Great Hall.
Digital Douglass, an audio trail exploring the life of Fredrick Douglass and his visit to the guildhall, has also been created alongside a spoken word piece.
Applications for the second round of Tier 1 grants, which allow organisations to apply for between £2,000 and £8,000, will run from February 19 to March 29. Applications for Tier 2 grants of between £250 and £1,999 can be submitted until March 29.
Applicants are invited to an expression of interest meeting, before completing the full application for the scheme, which is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered in partnership with Coventry City Council.
The programme aims to get more people involved in heritage, arts, culture and community activities hosted at or inspired by the 14th century guildhall, after it reopened in 2022 following a £6 million renovation.
Niamh Carton, Community Engagement Manager at St Mary’s Guildhall, said: “We had some amazing projects and applications in the last round, and we would urge any who missed out last time to apply.
“We are open to any new ideas that bring the community together through the guildhall.
“This programme is a really important step in our plan to make the guildhall and Coventry’s heritage welcoming to as many people as possible, and part of that is handing over the reins to people in the community to deliver events and activities that matter to them.”
Councillor David Welsh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Coventry City Council, added: “Some really fantastic events have been put on following the first round of grant funding and we are now working with No Ordinary Hospitality Management to launch the second part of this scheme.
“The Guildhall is a really impressive venue so this is a great opportunity for local groups to apply for funding to support the delivery of a wide range of heritage projects, helping to bring the venue to life for new audiences.
Further information, including eligibility criteria and application guidance, can be found at www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk/community-grants