Transported has been awarded £1,000,000 as part of Arts Council England’s largest ever Creative People and Places (CPP) Portfolio, which sees £42 million invested in 45 programmes from 2026–29, to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences in areas across England where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average.
Transported will continue to deliver cultural activities in Boston and South Holland in Lincolnshire, building on their 12 years’ work there. The new phase, which is called ‘Mind the Gap’, pays attention to the gaps in provision for arts and cultural opportunities in this rurally distinctive area. The programme will continue to champion the values of Creative People and Places, seeking to reach local residents across the districts and those who face challenges in accessing arts and culture.
The programme has a four-tiered approach: to connect with residents and consult them about their cultural ambitions; to care, offering creativity for self-making; to celebrate through festivals and events that contribute to local identity and belonging for community-making; and to curate creative spaces for civic pride and place-making.
CPPs bring together community, grassroots and cultural organisations as partners to take the lead in choosing, creating and taking part in creative and cultural activities. CPPs are empowering local people to pursue the art they want, where they live.
This funding is made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Every National Lottery ticket purchased generates money for good causes and enables people in villages, towns, and cities up and down the country to get access to cultural experiences where they live.
Nick Jones, Transported’s director said, “Transported has opened up new opportunities for more people to engage with the arts, but there’s still more to do. Our new funding phase, ‘Mind the Gap’, is about consolidating our work across festivals, outdoor events, and all areas of our activity to reach those we haven’t yet connected with. We want to create high-quality, place-based arts experiences that truly resonate with our communities, and we’re delighted to have the support of Arts Council England to help realise the ambitions of Boston and South Holland residents and community groups over the next three years.”
Liz Johnson, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England said: “Creative People and Places projects bring organisations and communities together to shape the creative and cultural activities available in their local area. Funded by the National Lottery, we are investing more than £9.2 million in the Midlands, to ensure more people can experience, connect and take part in creativity on their doorsteps.
“Transported’s new phase ‘Mind the Gap’ brings rural and coastal communities together for a range of high quality creative and cultural experiences that are accessible, relevant, raise aspirations, and help the area to thrive through a collaborative approach to culture.”
Transported operates within the University of Lincoln’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, embedding the University directly within local communities in Lincolnshire. This close partnership allows Transported to deliver research-informed, high-quality cultural programmes that align with the University’s mission to transform lives and enrich communities. By combining academic expertise with grassroots engagement, Transported brings the University’s resources, knowledge, and creative vision directly to residents, supporting meaningful participation in arts and culture.
Dominic Symonds, Professor of Musical Theatre and Director of Research for the College of Arts at the University of Lincoln, and chair of Transported’s management board said: “The University is proud of Transported’s successful bid for this next phase of Creative People and Places funding. Transported was the only programme to receive an uplift from previous funding phases, a testament to the team’s dedication, expertise, and impact. Through initiatives like ‘Mind the Gap’, the University is able to place creativity at the heart of communities, transforming lives and fostering cultural participation across Lincolnshire.”
