SEDGEMOOR SMart Creative People and Places consortium, led by Homes in Sedgemoor, has been successful in its bid to Arts Council England for £1,101,374.

This investment covers the first four years of the ten-year SMart programme vision.

Creative People and Places is about collaboration, and producing exciting arts and culture by, for and with the local community.

Claire Tough, interim CEO at Homes in Sedgemoor, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Sedgemoor to expand our access to the arts and local culture scene in ways that can surprise and delight us all.

“An important first step is for more people to not only enjoy the arts in Sedgemoor but to take a lead role in shaping this and engaging with us over the next ten years.

“We want to build on our collective strengths as a consortium, to form new long-term partnerships with local communities, businesses, charities, artists and institutions (local, regional, inter/national) to achieve exciting new creative work the like of which we have not seen in our area before.

“Building a legacy that drives well-being and independence.”

With initial match cash already pledged from Sedgemoor and Bridgwater Town Councils as well as from MD Group construction, Liberty Group property services and from Bridgwater and District Trades Unions Council, the next step is for the consortium members to sit down and shape the detailed business plan for the first phase.