Catalyst for Culture

The project seeks to develop industry knowledge in the creation, presentation and dissemination of socially distanced performances to existing and new (including marginalised) audiences; to invest in the future with talent development opportunities for young people; and to drive growth and productivity through a series of new regional productions.

The Catalyst for Culture Programme is a new partnership between established performing arts institutions of national and international standing in the SELEP region, providing live and on-line theatre experiences for audiences throughout Kent, Medway, Thurrock, Southend, East Sussex and Essex during the COVID-19 crisis, and supporting the creative, production and technical workforce, artists and freelancers across the SELEP region.

The partnership is the first of its kind between SELEP performing arts institutions, raising the profile of performing arts in the region and acting as a pilot for future development, as a base for performing arts production and skills development and as the foundation for a wider regional touring circuit.

Sector Support Fund

The Sector Support Fund (SSF) was established to support one-off, discrete pieces of work of a pan-LEP nature with a sector focus that bring demonstrable benefit and which have support across the LEP area.

The SSF used Growing Places Fund (GPF) Revenue grant to fund a programme of works which supported the sector focussed activities being undertaken on a pan-LEP basis and which were predominantly led by the SELEP working groups.