£1.5m for cultural placemaking in Wales

National Lottery funds will drive a partnership approach to cultural regeneration in Wales and Scotland, following the roll out of the Great Place Scheme.

The three-year pilot scheme aims to enable communities to test news ways of using heritage and culture to drive social and economic agendas. It hopes to create a “step-change” in how heritage and cultural organisations work with organisations in other sectors

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) officially launched the scheme in Wales this week and plans to invest £1.5m in up to eight places across the country over the next three years.

Applications are already underway for the scheme in Scotland, where £2.5m will be awarded to between five and ten places.

The scheme, which was first announced in the Government’s Culture White Paper, has already invested £20m in 12 communities across England in partnership with Arts Council England.

Arts Council of Wales and Creative Scotland are working with HLF in an advisory capacity, but have not committed any additional funds to the scheme.

Kay Andrews, UK trustee and chair of HLF in Wales, said: “An area’s culture is important not just for its own sake; this scheme will show how it can also boost jobs and local economies, improve education and life chances and promote community cohesion and wellbeing.”

The scheme will support collaborative projects that embed heritage and culture in local plans and decision-making to tackle issues such as poverty, employment, education and health. Local partnerships can apply for up to £500k in Wales and £1m in Scotland.

It is expected to be rolled out to Northern Ireland on 12 June.

The deadline for expressions of interest is mid-August in Wales and 8 June in Scotland.