A £1m investment will help close the arts access gap and bring new creative opportunities to Boston and South Holland, as community arts programme Transported, based at the University of Lincoln, secures a major boost from Arts Council England.
Announced as part of the national Creative People and Places (CPP) portfolio for 2026-29, the funding will support a new phase of work titled Mind the Gap, tackling the gaps in access to culture across some of Lincolnshire’s most rural, hard-to-reach communities.
Boston and South Holland are the only areas in Greater Lincolnshire to benefit from the CPP scheme, making this a significant win for the region. With many local residents living miles from theatres, galleries, and cultural infrastructure, the funding aims to bring arts experiences directly to doorsteps, parks, village halls, and community spaces.
Nick Jones, director of Transported, said: “We’ve spent more than a decade working with communities here, and this next phase is about going even deeper, making sure no one feels left out of culture. From festivals and creative workshops to outdoor events and new art spaces, this investment will help local people shape and celebrate the place they call home.”
Dominic Symonds, professor of musical theatre, director of research for the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Lincoln, and chair of the Transported management board, said: “The University is proud of Transported’s successful bid for this next phase of Creative People and Places funding.
“Transported was the only programme to receive an uplift from previous funding phases, a testament to the team’s dedication, expertise, and impact. Through initiatives like Mind the Gap, the University can place creativity at the heart of communities, transforming lives and fostering cultural participation across Lincolnshire.”
Liz Johnson, Midlands area director at Arts Council England, said: “Creative People and Places projects bring organisations and communities together to shape the creative and cultural activities available in their local area. Funded by the National Lottery, we are investing more than £9.2 million in the Midlands, to ensure more people can experience, connect and take part in creativity on their doorsteps.
“Transported’s new phase ‘Mind the Gap’ brings rural and coastal communities together for a range of high-quality creative and cultural experiences that are accessible, relevant, raise aspirations, and help the area to thrive through a collaborative approach to culture.”
Image: Flos Pompa mural in Spalding. Credit: Faye Parker
