Start 2023 with funding from the Adur & Worthing Trust

The Adur & Worthing Trust are excited to announce the launch of the next round of Creative Commissions small grant funding, with grants of £500 - £1000 up for grabs. The Trust wants to commission more works of art – these could be in any shape or form, for example a painting, a comedy performance, a community participation dance project, a piece of new music, a film, a literary work or a new exciting event. The Trust funded nine exciting projects in 2022 and are inviting applications from across Adur & Worthing.

Karen Simporis, Chair of Adur & Worthing Trust says; “2022 gave us another great series of projects with something for all ages and a wide range of genres. For 2023 we’re looking for more new ideas and collaborations especially if it’s your first time applying for funding and dipping your toes in the water! Maybe a performance for the new Worthing Festival in June? More about this later. Surprise us!”

Applications open on 24 January, with a virtual & in-person launch at Colonnade House, featuring live Q&A with the Chair of the Trust alongside an exhibition & showcase of funded projects in 2022.  Another launch event is also planned to be held at Freedom Works - Fabric, Lancing, on 30 January, 18.00 - 19.30

Book onto a free launch event on the Colonnade House website: https://colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/creative-commissions-2023/

2022 saw a varied selection of funded projects ranging from sheep shearing to drag queens. Sea swimmers to giant kaleidoscopes. As usual, the funded projects showcased the diversity, talent & ingenuity of creatives based in Adur & Worthing.

Join the launch, visit the exhibition and be inspired to apply for a grant in 2023 to bring your project to life.

The funded projects of 2022;

●        The first project of the year coincided with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, artists from ‘Worthing’s West End’ collaborated with participants at Sight Support Worthing with interactive workshops to produce woven & knitted sculptures and large scale collaged banners which decorated Rowlands Road & Steyne Gardens in celebration of the Jubilee.

●        Jacob Chillmaid , aka Isabelle End, presented a group of LGBTQ+ performers at Coast Cafe - many appearing in public for the first time. The artists brought singing, comedy, lip syncs and breathtaking death drops. The event was then repeated in July as part of Worthing Pride.

●        When skateboarding & creativity collide. South Coast Skate Club worked with film producer Andy Evans holding workshops to support young skateboarders to film, record & edit their own ‘skate vids’. The films were premiered at Cellar Arts Club, with a full audience, who sat down refreshments to watch & vote on the 26 submissions in over 6 categories. One of the highlights was ‘Jurassic Skate Park’ by Lily Rose, which featured a velociraptor on wheels.

●        Just Add Water celebrated the post-lockdown communities of sea swimming along our wonderful coast line. Filmmaker Kristian Coburn met with local swimming groups from across Adur & Worthing to record their stories and highlight the positive effects sea swimming has on wellbeing & mental health. The film premiered locally in Worthing and has since gone on to be screened at festivals in Wales and has been nominated for the Lift-Off Global Network’s First-Time Filmmaker Sessions.

●        Katie Gander used the power of nature & creativity to ‘weave communities together’. The project was launched in Summer when the flock of sheep at Fen Farm in Sompting, had their winter fleeces sheared. With funding from the Trust and Sompting Big Local, the farm opened its doors and Katie took members of the public through the process, spinning, dying & felting the wool from fleece to wonderful pieces of textile art.

●        For a time during the pandemic, all we could do was look out the window. David Parker and artists from Figment Arts Studio, explored this theme in a variety of creative outputs. After being inspired by trips to Highdown Gardens, paintings, drawings, comic strips and performance took over the gallery at Colonnade House in celebration of the theme. The giant kaleidoscope was taken to Superstar Arts in West Worthing, and participants watched their artwork magically transform, which then provided a sensory experience for the artists with learning disabilities.

●        The mission of The Coastal Creatives is to Conserve, Create & Change. The trio is made up of reportage artist, Amanda Beck, songwriter, Chris Beck & beach trash artist, Carmen Haselup. Throughout Summer, they brought their creativity & passion for a greener world to the outdoor exhibition space, West Buildings Shelter, on Worthing Beach. The exhibition encouraged passers by to write their own song, create their own trash art and get involved with protecting our environment. With people as far as New Zealand being inspired and engaging with the campaign.

●        October was a month of celebration! Choir group, Spring in Soul, used the power of music to bring Black History Month celebrations to Worthing. With free performances encouraging audience participation throughout the month, the musicians and singers sang their hearts out whilst highlighting the important contributions and achievements of members of the Black community.

●        Simon Wilkinson developed an augmented reality story which explored the relationship between a medical robot and a child. Simon worked with artist Myra Appannah to launch the smartphone app at Worthing Dome in 2022.

You can see all the funded projects from 2022 on the Colonnade House website here and at the Creative Commissions exhibition 24 January - 4 February 2023. Applications close midnight 5 March 2023.

About the Trust:

Adur & Worthing Trust was formed in 2015 and is a registered charity and

Company Limited by Guarantee.

The Trust aims to stimulate the economy, employment, regeneration and

infrastructure in the local creative and digital sector both physically and virtually.

It actively supports Adur & Worthing Councils strategy A Commitment to Culture

by encouraging inclusive cultural activities, expanding opportunities to

participate in the arts and raising the profile and reputation of Adur and Worthing

for cultural excellence and innovation.