Stoke-on-Trent to get £850k to support culture sector

Urban Wilderness organises The Pig Walk in Longton, where the first cultural action zone will be created

New funding to support cultural activities and events across Stoke-on-Trent has been announced.

Arts organisation Stoke Creates confirmed the £850,000 investment in its Cascade project - an initiative to support cultural development.

As part of the three-year scheme, "cultural action zones" will be created across the city, which will host arts-related activities throughout the year.

The funding came from Arts Council England, using National Lottery money.

Staffordshire University's Professor Carola Boehm, co-chair of Stoke Creates, said: "Our region excels in participatory cultural practices.

"This funding allows us to lean into this strength and, through the power of arts and creativity, make a huge difference to our places and communities."

The first cultural action zone will be in Longton and headed by Urban Wilderness, which organises a number of activities in the area, including the annual Pig Walk.

Isla Telford, the group's director, said they were planning to hold large scale events, a regular town forum and a youth forum as part of the new scheme.

Cascade is one of several initiatives being led by Stoke Creates as part of its bid to secure resources for Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire's culture sector.

Others include the Stoke Creates Cultural Exchange - a forum for artists in North Staffordshire - as well as bespoke training and learning opportunities.