WREXHAM Council has announced plans to invite community groups, businesses and third sector organisations to apply for a grant as part of their work ahead of the City of Culture 2029 bid.

Wrexham narrowly missed out to Bradford in their bid for the City of Culture title in 2025, with a key element of that bid being the award of community commissions up to £1,000 for events and activities that outwardly supported the bid.

A total of 53 small grants were also given to help deliver a range of projects to help with the 2025 bid which took place between January and May earlier this year.

The council has now reaffirmed its intention to support local initiatives by offering eight grants of £5,000 to deliver a project, event, or activity that will help generate a lasting legacy; coinciding with the council’s cultural strategy for 2029, which is to host a Month of Culture in 2023, a Season of Culture in 2025 and a Cultural Programme in 2027 depending on the bid result.

Applications for the grants must be for events, activities, and projects taking place before Friday, March 31, 2023, and will be welcomed from across the county and the hills of Minera and the Valleys of Glyn Ceiriog.

Cllr Mark Pritchard, leader of Wrexham Council said: “Looking back at the City of Culture 2025 campaign it’s hard to think of a time where so many community organisations and individuals worked together so closely to achieve the same goal.

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“We want to replicate and build on the great work our Wrexham community produced as we look to support and grow our cultural offering. Last month we officially became a city, I think this really shows the ambition we have for Wrexham.

 “Wouldn’t it be fantastic if in 2029 we could also call Wrexham the UK City of Culture.”

Cllr Hugh Jones, lead member for Culture at Wrexham Council added: “In developing and supporting our diverse cultural sector over the next few years, we will be in a great position to become the host region for City of Culture 2029 and bring in the many benefits and rewards that come with the prestigious title.

“These grants will show our ongoing commitment to the cultural sector in Wrexham, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what’s produced.”

Applications must meet at least one of the following local objectives:

  • Demonstrating Wrexham’s ambition to host events and activity of international significance
  • Promoting Wrexham as the centre of trade and events in North Wales.
  • Celebrating Wrexham’s desire to be The UK “Capital of Play”.
  • Wrexham as the home of football in Wales.
  • Showing Wrexham as a leader in innovation.
  • Emphasis on Welsh language and heritage
  • Celebrating cultural diversity

The commissions will be administered by the City of Culture team at Wrexham Council and the allocation of commissions will be decided by a panel.

Inquiries regarding the commission can be sent to wrecsam2029@wrexham.gov.uk.

Completed application forms should be sent via email to: wrecsam2029@wrexham.gov.uk no later than 23:59 on Tuesday, October 25.

Successful applicants will be notified by email week commencing October 31.

Please contact wrecsam2029@wrexham.gov.uk for further details.