Our Projects
The Creative BasildON programme is built on multiple projects that aim to engage across all of our communities. These were inspired by a range of unique cultural activities that were developed and assessed before putting in the application for funding to Arts Council England.
Alongside this, extensive community discussions were undertaken to ensure the activity is what local people want to see!
Below, you can find more in-depth information about each of the core projects – however, please remember, we still need YOU to shape them.
Shine ON!
Click here to find out more about our Shine ON! Winter programme that ran from November 2023 – January 2024.
Field Artists
The new field artists website is now live! You can find out more about each individuals artist’s project and how they got on…
Young Pioneers
‘Young Pioneers’ is series of youth-led creative activities, developed through our creative skills development programme for 16-25 year olds, funded and supported by ReGeneration: 2013, a Creative Estuary project.
Supported by industry experts, our young pioneers developed their own project that uses creativity to drive change in their local areas – happening in February 2023.
Open Lab
Open Lab is one of Creative BasildON’s core programmes, that supports innovative and creative, community engagement projects within neighbourhoods or town centres.
Find out about our latest Open Lab commissions and opportunities.
Our Towns
Our Towns is an exciting project from Creative BasildON that brought incredible works of art to the streets of Basildon town centre.
Eight world-class artists were partnered with local organisations to create murals inspired by Basildon, bringing conversation and colour to the walls of the town.
To find out more, visit: our-towns.com
Legacy Culture Trails 2024
As part of the 2024/25 programme of work, Creative Basildon, led by the community will explore the cultural life of Basildon, through an opportunity to identify and map the art and cultural pieces: present, past and to start a series of trails that can be developed over the next year or two to literally put Basildons art, culture and creative history on the map.
The core overall aims of the Culture Trails are:
To connect with the community of place and interest.
To celebrate Basildon’s many cultural and historical places, spaces and works of art that are not only recognised as historically important but have also been in situ in the past and present.
To build up a series of trails across the borough that celebrate the quirkiness and cultural importance of some of the places, history and people from Basildon.
Phase one activity is in Basildon Town Centre.
We’re excited to announce the appointment of the Care Contractors – Shaun C. Badham, Emma Edmondson, Laura Whiting, and Lu Williams– for our Culture Trails artist commission. Over the next 4 months, they will be working alongside residents to create new socially engaged works, events, a cultural trail, and a publication.
Summer Sparks 2024
Our Summer Sparks programme took place over the month of August where x 4 creative groups from the local community, worked with local schools (Millhouse, Northland’s, Vange and Briscoe) in the Basildon borough to deliver a series of arts & cultural activities that were later showcased at our Creative Family Fun Day. Those creative groups included Words in Chalk, an Essex based spoken word and poetry community providing workshops and events. Hidden Talents, who work with young people to build on their self-expression and confidence through dance, drama, games, and performance. Brazilarte Academy, home to Brazilian martial arts, dance, music, art & culture. Finally, Infinity Circus – skilled professional performers from stilt walkers to hula hooper’s, jugglers to fire eaters, this troupe has over 15 years experience performing and teaching circus skills and street performing. Summer Sparks was in collaboration with Active, Thrive, Flourish.