Lovers of the arts are being asked to help shape a £1 million project for the area after the Arts Council agreed funding for an innovative scheme covering Fenland and Forest Heath.

The project entitled ‘Market Place’ is funded by Arts Council East as part of their Creative People and Places fund to focus investment in parts of the country where people’s involvement in the arts is significantly below the national average. Additional funding has also been given by Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Suffolk and Forest Heath Local Authorities.

Over three initial intense years of activity, and a ten-year development plan, the project aims to build a strong, confident and ambitious arts community informed by the heritage and landscape of Fenland and Forest Heath.

The project will be managed by a consortium of arts organisations made up of ADeC, 20Twenty Productions CIC, Music Arts Project CIC, Newmarket Racecourses and The New Wolsey Theatre.

Last year the consortium was invited to produce a business plan for the scheme which this month was approved by the Arts Council, thereby unlocking just under one million pounds to invest in the scheme.

The project will support existing art groups in the region whilst also offering new experiences and opportunities. A key aim is to enable local communities to engage with the arts on a regular basis and to play a leadership role in the development and delivery of arts activities.

The views of each community are at the heart of this approach, so the consortium are inviting people to come forward to help shape this project by joining the local creative arts forums which will be established in each of the seven key market towns; these being Brandon, Mildenhall, Newmarket, March, Wisbech , Whittlesey and Chatteris.

Nathan Jones, director of ADeC said: “We are delighted that our business plan has been approved. The work we have done with the communities so far has been very encouraging and we are very excited about working with them further to develop an enticing programme of events.”

To find out more and to get involved in this amazing opportunity please join us at a local meeting, visit our web-site or contact; fenland@ccpmarketplace.co.uk

Local meetings: Monday February 16 at March Town Hall from 5pm to 6pm and then on the same day from 7.15pm to 8.15pm at the Octavia Hill Birthplace House in Wisbech; finally on Wednesday February 18 from 6pm to 7pm at the King Edward Centre in Chatteris.