COMMUNITY groups are invited to bid for up to £2,500 to develop artistic and cultural projects.

The Let’s Create fund is available to creative initiatives in east Durham, with applications open for grants of £500 to £2,500.

Part of East Durham Creates, it was launched today (Wednesday, August 12) with an information event at Shotton Colliery.

Nikki Locke, head of East Durham Creates, said: “Let’s Create is about people shaping arts and culture in their own area.

“The commissioning scheme could be for a series of workshops, or getting artists involved in community events, or longer term projects – we’d love to hear people’s ideas of what they want to happen and how they want to get involved.

“By supporting grassroots cultural activity and building local capacity we are hoping to lay the foundations for everyone to have the opportunity to be involved in arts and creative activity on a long term basis.”

Malcolm Fallow, chief executive of the East Durham Trust, which manages Let’s Create, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for local people to contribute to increasing participation in the arts and I’m confident that the community will take full advantage.”

For more information, call Colin Jackson on 0191-569-3511 or email: colin.jackson@eastdurhamtrust.org.uk