Community events and arts projects

Here's some suggestions for visitor/community events and arts projects that your church may like to consider, in addition to the church calendar of Easter, Harvest, Remembrance, Advent and Christmas:

Event ideas

• Heritage Open Days  September annually.

• Ride+Stride  the 2nd Saturday in September annually.  A sponsored walk or cycle between churches which raises funds for a church of your choice and our county church trust, Historic Cheshire Churches Preservation Trust (HCCPT).

• Are there village or town festivals/events, commemorations or key dates, or walking/cycling trails you could link with? 

  
  

Events planning

• Your local authority may be co-ordinating events. One suggestion is to speak with their heritage/arts/events team.

• Ecclesiastical Insurance have produced guidance, including a check list

• Running an event safely - by HSE

• Welcoming Visitors and Tourists - by the Diocese of Chester

  
  

Arts

• Art, Artefacts and Conservation. Guidance from the Church of England includes:

  • Display Cases

  • Introducing New Art in Churches

  • Managing Conservation Projects

  • Disposals and Loans

  • And specific guidance for treasures including Church Plate, Metalwork, Monuments, Monumental Brasses, Paintings Organs, Roodscreens, Stained Glass, Textiles, Wallpaintings, Woodwork/Wooden Objects. All can searched in their Advice and Guidance section. New guidance documents are issued as available.

    
    

• Christian Arts organisations

  • The Anchor Foundation

  • Art and Christianity Enquiry

  • Art and Sacred Places

  • Christian Arts Trust

  • Cottam Will Trust

  • Art Alive in Churches

    
    

• Regional arts organisations

  • Axis Arts Centre

  • Cheshire Dance

  • Theatre Porto

  • Urban Cheshire Arts and Chuff Chuff

    
    

• National Arts Organisations

  • Arts Council England

  • Voluntary Arts

    
    

• Funding for arts projects

  • Anchor Foundation

  • Arts Council England

  • National Lottery Communities Fund, Awards for All (previously called Big Lottery)

  • B&Q re-use/up cycle scheme

  • Conservation of historic art and furnishings

  • Conservation of Church Treasures and Arts Projects.  The Church of England’s Parish Resources have produced a 'National List of Charitable Grants for Churches'. A range of national grant-giving trusts for arts projects- worth looking through the whole document.

  • Open 4 Funding

  • Esmee Fairbain

  • Jerusalem Trust

  • Christian Arts Trust

  • Friends of Friendless Chuches

  • Garfield Weston Foundation

  • Golsoncott Foundation

  • Granada Foundation Grants Programme (North West)

  • Radcliffe Trust - Music Grants

  • Youth Music - Grant Making Programmes

  • Also speak with local arts contacts for advice, see above