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About the City Centre and High Streets Culture and Events Programme, future events, ongoing events, and past events.

About the events programme

We're investing in the culture and events sector to:

  • support Bristol's city centre and high streets, by increasing the number of people visiting and using these places
  • support the culture and events sector

We organise activities under the City Centre and High Streets programme, funded by:

  • Bristol City Council
  • the West of England Combined Authority's Love our High Street project

City Centre Culture and Events Programme 2024

The City Centre Culture and Events Grant Scheme is part of the City Centre and High Streets Programme funded by:

  • Bristol City Council
  • West of England Combined Authorities Love our High Streets project

Between 2021 and 2023 the City Centre and High Streets Programme delivered a range of culture and events activities in four areas of the city centre.

We now have £170,000 to support three different areas of the city centre:

  • Christmas Steps
  • Old Market
  • Stokes Croft

We're investing in the culture and events sector to:

  • attract additional footfall to priority areas, supporting the city's economy
  • advance equality, diversity and inclusion for all of Bristol's citizens
  • support itself as a sector
  • address environmental sustainability, climate and ecological emergency

This funding will be allocated to activity taking place between Summer 2024 and February 2025.

It is to be split in the following ways:

  • City Centre: Large Culture and Events Grants
  • City Centre: Small Culture and Events Grants

See information below for full details.

City Centre: Large Culture and Events Grants

We have allocated £120,000 to engage a cultural organisation in each of three city centre sites:

  • Christmas Steps
  • Old Market
  • Stokes Croft

We're looking for one cultural organisation to act as a lead organisation in each location, to produce a highly localised culture and events project, which places collaboration and stakeholder engagement at its heart.

How to apply

This opportunity has now closed.

Nighttime Economy Grants

We have made £45,000 available to support independent businesses in three city centre locations in diversifying their nighttime offer.

The second funding application window is now open.

Closing date: 9am, Tuesday 15 October 2024.

Locations eligible for the grants

The areas are:

  • Christmas Steps
  • Old Market
  • Stokes Croft

Type of grants

Nighttime Economy Grant: Extended Opening Hours

This grant is for businesses that do not open or operate after 6pm to trial late night openings.

Businesses will be able to access funding of between £600 and £1,000 to trial between 3 to 5 late-night openings.

Nighttime Economy Grant: Events and Activities

Grants of between £500 to £2000 are available to allow businesses to test an idea to reach a wider or new audience, trialling something which can continue to be self-funded.

How to apply

To apply you should:

Submit the Application Form, Equalities Monitoring Form and insurance information to business@bristol.gov.uk by 9am, Tuesday 15 October 2024.

Deadline for questions: Wednesday 9 October 2024

Deadline for applications: 9am, Tuesday 15 October 2024

Webinars

We'll be running regular information webinars to talk through the guidance:

  • 10am, Tuesday 24 September 2024
  • 5pm, Wednesday 25 September 2024

To book a place on a webinar email business@bristol.gov.uk with the subject line ‘Nighttime Economy Grant Webinar', and let us know which webinar you want to attend. We'll send you the link to join the webinar.

High Streets: Creative Practitioners Tender Brief

We have engaged Creative Practitioners to work with the local community in Ashley Road/Grosvenor Road (BS1), Oatlands Avenue (BS14) and Crow Lane (BS10).

This opportunity has now closed.

High Streets: Ashley Road/ Grosvenor Road (BS1) Celebration Event Tender Brief

This opportunity has now closed.

High Streets: Crow Lane (BS10) Wellbeing Events Tender Brief

This opportunity has now closed. 

Information on the first phase of the City Centre and High Streets Culture and Events Programme

From October 2021 until October 2023, the first phase of the City Centre and High Streets Culture & Events Programme focussed on the city centre and nine priority high streets.

Brislington Hill and Bristol Hill

Church Road

East Street Bedminster

Filton Avenue

Filwood Broadway

Shirehampton High Street

Stapleton Road

Stockwood

Two Mile Hill

Bristol City Council worked with Bristol-based organisations, with experience of working with the community to organise cultural activities and events.

Activities included: markets, community events and family fun days, public art installations, light and lantern parades, promenades and much more.

View a pdf slideshow of recent events (3.01 MB)