The Coventry City of Culture Trust has announced more fundraising success

The Coventry City of Culture Trust has announced more fundraising success having secured a further £225,000 in grant funding from a range of funders.

This new funding enables the Trust to support mental health and wellbeing projects, expand its digital programme, commission local spoken word and visual artists and support the local music sector throughout the year of UK City of Culture.

The Severn Trent Community Fund has granted £75,000, the Linbury Trust has awarded £50,000, Jerwood Arts is supporting with £50,000, the Art Fund has granted £40,000 and The Radcliffe Trust has awarded £10,000.

Severn Trent Community Fund’s grant goes towards the Growing Wellbeing strand of Coventry 2021’s flagship environmental programme, Green Futures.

Growing Wellbeing aims to improve communities’ physical and mental wellbeing by connecting them to nature, with a number of initiatives taking place around the city’s rivers and parks, Coventry Canal Basin and along the Coventry Canal.

The Linbury Trust is supporting the presentation of digital arts exhibitions for new audiences during the year.

Jerwood Arts’ funding will support a programme of commissions and career development support for 15 spoken word artists from the West Midlands, who will participate in an annual celebration of poetry and spoken word, BBC Contains Strong Language, in Coventry in September.

Art Fund is supporting the delivery the Coventry Biennial beginning in October this year, and running until January 2022, with a grant of £40,000 towards visual art commissions, while The Radcliffe Trust’s award will help Coventry’s music sector, specifically through supporting a city-wide Coventry Music Steering Group and commissioning local musicians and composers.

The additional funding announced today brings the total funds raised for the delivery of Coventry 2021 and its legacy to over £30 million, from government and lottery funders, trusts and foundations, and local corporate sponsors. The Trust continues to raise funds to support the year and ensure a long-lasting legacy for the city.

Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful for the support from the Severn Trent Community Fund, the Linbury Trust, Jerwood Arts, the Art Fund and The Radcliffe Trust.

“It is extremely valuable support that will leave a lasting legacy following our year as Coventry UK City of Culture 2021.”