Arts Project Grants

Anjali Dance Company

Holly's Project

Developed and delivered by Anjali Dance Company, Holly’s Project brought inclusive, disability-led dance into local libraries through a series of workshops and performances. The project engaged 15 participants and reached 74 audience members, many of whom were encountering disability dance for the very first time. One participant shared, “The workshop made me feel free and allowed me to move freely,” reflecting the confidence and joy fostered through the sessions. Audiences described the performances as inspiring, beautiful, authentic, and amazing, with 100% saying they would love to see more events like this in the future.

The project also provided a significant professional development opportunity for Holly, who gained valuable experience in leading creative work publicly, strengthening her skills, visibility, and employability as a disabled artist. Libraries benefitted too, gaining insight into how to make their spaces more inclusive and welcoming for diverse communities. As one librarian noted, “Holly's performance held everyone spellbound, it was beautiful.”

By opening up new cultural experiences in accessible, community settings, Holly’s Project not only inspired creativity among participants but also laid the foundations for more inclusive arts practice across Warwickshire.

Photo Credit Andrew Moore.

Helping Hands Community Project

Daniel’s Rise provides a safe daytime space for vulnerable men, offering hot meals, activities, and support to overcome challenges like addiction, trauma, and homelessness. Through positive connections and skill-building, we help them move forward. Participants have already started woodworking for a social enterprise and now want to learn mosaic-making. Local artist Jacqui Grove, with experience running a mosaic business in South Africa, will lead a 12-week beginner Mosaic Art Workshop. Up to 10 men will learn design, tile-cutting, and assembly, creating a mosaic name plaque for a charity shop. Sessions will run weekly at our familiar meeting space. The grant will fund artist fees and materials.

Hill Close Gardens Trust 

The Story Gardens of Warwick
Developed and delivered by Kate Adlington in collaboration with Hill Close Gardens Trust, this project engaged 14 ESOL learners and their families through immersive workshops at local schools and in the gardens themselves. Participants, many of whom had never visited before, experienced the gardens’ rich history, nature, and art in a welcoming, inclusive setting. One learner reflected, “I feel very calm, very peaceful and very happy here,” capturing the sense of belonging fostered by the project. The workshops encouraged personal storytelling and creative expression, helping participants connect their own heritage with Warwick’s cultural landscape. Joy Godwin, ESOL tutor, noted that the learners were “so happy and relaxed,” benefiting from rare opportunities for reflection within their studies. The project also strengthened new partnerships and laid groundwork for future community-focused arts and nature programs. A family half-term event allowed children and parents to engage hands-on with gardening and crafts, with one child exclaiming, “This is so cool, I want to come here every day!” Overall, the project succeeded in making Hill Close Gardens a welcoming space for diverse communities, deepening connections to local heritage and nature, and fostering hope and inclusion.

Photo Credit Andrew Craner.