The High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme is part of the £95 million High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, which is currently working across more than 60 English high streets. It’s funded with £40 million from the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport’s Heritage High Street Fund, £52 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Future High Streets Fund, and a further £3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Aims

One of the major aims of the programme is to help people feel proud of where they live. The Cultural Programme is a key part of this. There is £7.4 million available to fund four years of cultural activities to engage communities with their local high streets, and celebrate the role and importance of these historic areas as hubs of the community. 

Overview

Historic England is leading the Cultural Programme in partnership with Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which is awarding £3 million. The programme is divided into two strands:

Local grants programme

Our local grants programme will be delivered in the form of grants distributed through cultural consortia set up by local authorities on each high street. £3 million of this funding is being provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The consortia are made up of local cultural organisations, creatives, heritage and community groups, and will develop a programme of activities and events to celebrate the local character and heritage of each location, making our high streets a key place to experience and participate in culture.

HSHAZ in Bedford

Bedford was selected as one of the 68 towns across the UK to receive a share of the £95 million fund. The grant will be used to facilitate the four-year HSHAZ programme, investing in Bedford High Street, local communities and visitors.