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 night-time offer.
Locations eligible for the grants
The areas are:
- Christmas Steps
- Old Market
- Stokes Croft
Type of grants
1: 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 three to five late-night openings.
2: 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:
- check if your business is within one of the eligible areas Night Time Economy Grants (arcgis.com)
- read the full eligibility criteria in either:
- download and complete the:
- document Application Form: Extended Opening Hours (97 KB) (9 August 2024) or
- pdf Application Form: Extended Opening Hours (237 KB) (9 August 2024)
- download and complete the:
- document Application Form: Events and Activities (98 KB) (9 August 2024) or
- pdf Application Form: Events and Activities (231 KB) (9 August 2024)
- download and complete the:
Submit the Application Form and Equalities Monitoring Form to business@bristol.gov.uk by 9am, Tuesday 3 September 2024.
You can email questions to business@bristol.gov.uk by Wednesday 28 August.
Licence changes or temporary events
Be aware when making a grant application that a new activity or event may require a Temporary Event Notice or Premises Licence.
You should read the documents to find out if this would apply to your proposed activity: Premises Licences and Temporary Events Notice.
Deadline for questions
Wednesday 28 August 2024
Deadline for applications
9am, Tuesday 3 September 2024
Webinars
We'll be running regular information webinars to talk through the guidance:
Webinar 1: Thursday 8 August, 11am to 12noon
Webinar 2: Thursday 8 August, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Webinar 3: Tuesday 13 August, 11am to 12noon
Webinar 4: Tuesday 13 August, 7pm to 8pm
Webinar 5: Wednesday 21 August, 4pm to 5pm
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
We would like to engage an individual/collective/organisation to work in Ashley Road/Grosvenor Road (BS1) to deliver 3 community celebration events.
The role
The role will include developing and delivering 3 celebration events in the Ashley Road/Grosvenor Road location.
It's essential that this role works alongside the wider community and local stakeholders to ensure activities reflect local interests and the character of the specific high street.
How to apply
Read the pdf Tender Brief: Community Celebrations Ashley Road/ Grosvenor Road (401 KB) . (Updated 18 July 2024).
The brief contains the full eligibility criteria and information on how to submit your tender proposal.
If you can't access the brief, email business@bristol.gov.uk.
Deadline for applications
5pm, Tuesday 20 August 2024
Webinars
We'll be running a webinar to talk through the brief.
Webinar date: 12.30pm, Thursday 25 July 2024
To book a place email business@bristol.gov.uk. We'll send you the link to join the webinar.
High Streets: Crow Lane (BS10) Wellbeing Events Tender Brief
We would like to engage an individual/collective/organisation to work in Crow Lane (BS10) to deliver three community wellbeing events.
The role
The role will include developing and delivering three community wellbeing events in the Crow Lane location.
It's essential that this role works alongside the wider community and local stakeholders to ensure activities reflect local interests and the character of the specific high street.
How to apply
Read the pdf Tender Brief: Wellbeing Events Crow Lane (BS10) (302 KB) . (Updated 18 July 2024).
The brief contains the full eligibility criteria and information on how to submit your tender proposal.
If you can't access the brief, email business@bristol.gov.uk.
Deadline for applications
5pm, Tuesday 20 August 2024
Webinars
We'll be running a webinar to talk through the brief.
Webinar date: 2pm, Thursday 25 July 2024
To book a place email business@bristol.gov.uk. We'll send you the link to join the webinar.
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.