Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

LIVERPOOL BID Company is launching its 2nd year of the Arts and Culture Fund for projects and events taking place in Liverpool City Centre. In its 1st year, the fund supported LEAP Dance Festival, launching in April, a new mural at ACC Liverpool to be unveiled later this year, the Uncover Liverpool website and newsletter by Open Culture, an exhibition by Homotopia x Ukraine Pride called:- 'STAY QUEER. NO MATTER WAR' and Liverpool Theatre Festival, held across the City.

Bill Elms, Artistic Director of Liverpool Theatre Festival said:- "We were absolutely delighted to receive funding from Liverpool BID for last year's festival, this unique annual outdoor theatre festival couldn't have gone ahead without this support. It's allowed the festival to grow into an important event in Liverpool's theatre calendar and in turn has supported the City's performers, and creatives and provided a platform for new work."

Ben Williams, Commercial and Business Development Director at the ACC Liverpool Group said:- "We were thrilled to receive funding from the Liverpool BID Arts & Culture fund last year. We teamed up with local artist Joseph Venning to create a waterfront mural installation that would bring colour and creativity to our event campus. It celebrates our thriving city’s diverse achievements and showcases the life and work of famous Liverpudlians both past and present. Even though painting is still in progress, it's been great to see so many people engage with it already, providing a great backdrop for selfies and hopefully inspiring them to think ‘if they can do it so can I."

The fund has two levels of grants; 1 for small grants of less than £5,000 which can cover 100% of the project, and a larger grant which can cover up to 50% of the total cost of the project.

Eligible projects should align with Liverpool BID’s objectives, including:- driving footfall to the City Centre, improving the City perspective, showing innovation and helping to showcase Liverpool as a thriving City, ensuring the arts have a future in the City, meeting both sustainable and ESG objectives, identity a commitment to equality and diversity.

Applicants can be levy payers, or non Levy Payers. This can include:- charities, CICs and CIOs committed to increasing public access to the arts. Organisations can include, but are not limited to:- museums, galleries, historic houses, archives, libraries, agencies and festivals. After a successful year of funding in 2023, the funding has reopened with two funding rounds, in the Spring and Autumn 2024. The 1st deadline is:- Friday, 22 March 2024, at:- 5pm and the 2nd is:- Friday, 27 September 2024, at 5pm.

For more information please visit:- LiverpoolBIDCompany.Com.
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