Bolton cultural education partnership
Culture Bolton - Bolton CEP (Cultural Education Partnership)
Bolton CEP (Cultural Education Partnership) is a place-based network of partners, dedicated to ensuring children and young people’s entitlement to culture and creativity is accessible & thriving. Bringing together schools, cultural organisations, and community partners, Bolton CEP works to ensure every child can access high-quality cultural and creative experiences, from 0-25.
At its core is a commitment to equity. Bolton CEP aims to remove barriers to participation & engagement, ensuring that opportunities to engage with arts, heritage, and creativity are available to all, regardless of background. It supports schools to embed creativity across learning and connects young people with local artists and cultural venues.
Bolton CEP aims to connect schools & youth services with cultural organisations & artists through regular training, networking & information sharing-to support a strong and high-quality ecology, in the local area.
Ultimately, Bolton CEP advocates for Children & Young People’s Entitlement to access high quality cultural experiences and creativity as an essential part of their local offer—supporting every young person in Bolton to thrive.
Bolton CEP is supported by Bolton Council, with partners including Octagon Theatre, the University of Greater Manchester, Creatives Now, Bolton Libraries & Museums Service, Woodbridge College, Bolton Lads & Girls Club, Hive Artists, Bolton School, and Bolton Music Service.
Funding Opportunity
At a time of curriculum change and increasing pressure on school budgets, Bolton secondary schools are invited to apply for up to £2,000 to invest in the future of arts subjects and creative learning.
We are looking for ambitious ideas that will strengthen arts subjects for young people now and for years to come. Any Arts subject(s) are eligible (Drama, Music, Art & Design, Textiles, Ceramics, Media Arts etc).
We hope to see applications that will look to address skills, training or equipment gaps that will make long term change to the way arts subjects can be taught in curriculum time.
This fund is designed to strengthen curriculum-based arts education and is not intended to support one-off trips/visits or enrichment activities that do not contribute directly to sustainable curriculum development.
Applications deadline: 9th October 2026, at 5pm
Applications should be submitted to boltoncep@mailbox.org
