East Staffordshire secures nearly £100,000 funding for new cultural programme
East Staffordshire Borough Council has secured almost £100,000 from Arts Council England to support a new programme of cultural activity across the borough throughout 2026 and 2027.
The £99,570 award will help fund a programme of events and activity designed to bring communities together, attract visitors and strengthen East Staffordshire’s cultural offer.
It will include the return of Canvas of Light, following its successful debut last year, when more than 10,000 people visited Burton Town Centre to experience the event.
The funding will also support the delivery of key actions within the Council’s new Culture, the Heartbeat of our Communities: Cultural and Events Strategy, which was approved by Cabinet earlier this year.
The announcement follows a busy period for culture in the borough, including the first Burton Cultural Celebration, delivered in partnership with local community organisations to showcase the creativity and diversity of the communities that call Burton home.
Cllr Paul Walker, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Cultural Development, said: “I’m delighted that we have secured this significant funding from Arts Council England. It gives us an important opportunity to build on the momentum we have already created and continue developing a strong and ambitious cultural programme for East Staffordshire.
“We have seen through events such as Sonic Boom Festival and Canvas of Light the impact culture can have – attracting thousands of people into our town centres, supporting local businesses and creating opportunities for communities to come together.
“This investment will help us continue that work and bring even more cultural activity to residents and visitors over the next two years.”
The Council’s cultural programme continues in September with the return of Sonic Boom Festival for its third year, delivered in partnership with Sonic Boom Music CIC.
The festival, which recently featured in the Government’s Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music announcement, returns to Burton upon Trent Town Centre on Saturday 12 September, with a free main stage and Aftershock programme.
Further details of the Council’s 2026 and 2027 cultural programme will be announced in due course.
Pictured: The Canvas of Light event
