Catalyst for Culture

It develops industry knowledge in the creation, presentation and dissemination of socially distanced performance to existing and new (including marginalised) audiences; invests in the future with talent development opportunities for young people; and drives growth and productivity through a series of new regional productions. 

The Catalyst for Culture Programme is a new partnership between established performing arts institutions of national and international standing in the SELEP region, providing live and on-line theatre experiences for audiences throughout Kent, Medway, Thurrock, Southend, East Sussex, South Essex and Essex during the Covid crisis, and supporting the creative, production and technical workforce, artists & freelancers across the SELEP region.

The partnership is the first of its kind between SELEP performing arts institutions, raising the profile of performing arts in the region and acting as a pilot for future development, as a base for performing arts production and skills development and as the foundation for a wider regional touring circuit.

Sector Support Fund

The Sector Support Fund (SSF) is a £500,000 per year pot to support one-off, discrete pieces of work of a pan-LEP nature with a sector focus that brings demonstrable benefit and has support across the LEP. At the June 2020 meeting a further £1 million was allocated to the SSF programme and it was extended until 31 March 2022 or when the fund is exhausted, whichever is sooner, The criteria was extended to ensure projects act to support the Covid-19 economic recovery and /or support the economy through the EU transition process.

It uses Growing Places Fund (GPF) Revenue grant to fund a programme of works to support the sector focussed activities that are being undertaken on a pan-LEP basis and predominantly led by the SELEP working groups. When the Growing Places Fund (GPF) grant was originally awarded, a proportion of the fund was earmarked as revenue which is being used for the Sector Support Fund.