Press Release: Colours of Redbridge has been awarded £998,936 from Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places (2026–29) programme!

Colours of Redbridge has been awarded £998,936 as part of Arts Council England’s largest ever Creative People and Places (CPP) Portfolio, which sees £42 million invested in 45 programmes from 2026–29, to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences in areas across England where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average.

Colours of Redbridge is an ongoing programme in East London that uses arts and culture to bring communities together and make a positive difference. It empowers Redbridge residents to lead creative projects, from large-scale artistic commissions to community-run workshops.

By amplifying underrepresented voices, building skills, and supporting wellbeing, the programme tackles social challenges while fostering pride and creativity. Its inclusive, community-led approach helps create lasting cultural engagement, making Redbridge a more connected and vibrant place where people from all backgrounds feel valued and empowered.

CPPs bring together community, grassroots and cultural organisations as partners to take the lead in choosing, creating and taking part in creative and cultural activities. CPPs are empowering local people to pursue the art they want, where they live.

This funding is made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Every National Lottery ticket purchased generates money for good causes and enables people in villages, towns, and cities up and down the country to get access to cultural experiences where they live.

Martin Solder, Chair of Vision Redbridge Culture (Lead Consortium Member) said “As the lead organisation and host for Colours of Redbridge, we are absolutely thrilled to have secured this funding for our community. The programme has truly transformed the cultural landscape of our borough, empowering residents to take the lead in commissioning and creating outstanding arts and culture. Witnessing this phenomenal impact has been inspiring, and we can’t wait to see what our community will achieve in the next three years.”

Michelle Walker, London Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “Creative People and Places is about empowering people to bring creativity into everyday spaces in ways that are important to them. We’re thrilled to support a new round of locally rooted projects that reflect the energy and diversity of London’s communities, from citizen-led assemblies and eco-focused events to youth-driven initiatives. With National Lottery funding, these programmes will help Londoners shape the cultural life of their neighbourhoods.”

For more information please contact:  hello@colours.red. Or visit our website www.colours.red,

About Arts Council England

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Our vision, set out in our strategy Let’s Create, is that by 2030, we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. Between 2023 and 2026 we will have invested over £467 million of public money from Government, alongside an estimated £250 million each year from The National Lottery, to help ensure that people in every part of the country have access to culture and creativity in the places where they live. Until Autumn 2025, the National Lottery is celebrating its 30th anniversary of supporting good causes in the United Kingdom: since the first draw was held in 1994, it has raised £49 billion and awarded more than 690,000 individual grants. Visit our website to learn more about our work.