Evolution Fund to bring Luton’s creative projects to life

The Evolution Fund provides grants of £5,000–£20,000 for projects that use creativity to strengthen wellbeing, connection and community pride. The awards follow a competitive process that saw 148 applications from local artists, organisations and community groups. 

The fund is part of the wider Luton Arts programme, a two-year initiative supporting the town’s cultural sector through funding, partnerships and opportunities that help local creativity grow and reach more communities.

The projects reflect the diversity of Luton’s arts scene, spanning visual arts, performance, textiles, literature, digital media, heritage and SEND‑focused practice. The funded projects will take place in wards across Luton from now until October 2026. 

Councillor Hazel Simmons, Leader of Luton Council, said: “Creativity is part of Luton’s DNA. The Evolution Fund backs ideas that grow from our neighbourhoods, our histories and our communities. These projects are full of imagination, courage and local pride. They show the impact that’s possible when people are supported to tell their stories.”

Councillor Javeria Hussain, Vice Chair of Luton Rising, said: “At Luton Rising, we’re proud to champion the Evolution Fund because we believe creativity can truly change lives and bring people together. These projects showcase the incredible talent and spirit that make our town unique, and we’re delighted to help them flourish. When Luton thrives creatively, the whole community benefits.”

James Gough, Independent Chair of the Arts and Culture Strategy Group, said: “The Arts and Culture Strategy Group acts as a strategic connector for Luton’s cultural vision, bringing partners together to create the conditions in which arts and culture can flourish—and supporting those who make and create to do so sustainably. Funding programmes like the Evolution Fund are vital in turning that vision into tangible support for artists, organisations and communities.”

The Evolution Fund will support the following projects:

• Abi Spendlove – Exploring Luton’s chalk landscape: A hands‑on visual arts project using chalk pigment, a travelling sculpture and a public exhibition celebrating the town’s natural landscape.
• Cheryl Prince – play called AWAKEN:  A site‑responsive performance exploring witch‑heritage, folklore and working‑class stories.
• Dianne Thomas – Voices of Nubian Queens: A multidisciplinary International Women’s Day event featuring poetry, storytelling, dance and drama celebrating Black women’s voices. 
• Gabrielle Smith, Jade Scott and Karis Beaumont – Beyond Luton Carnival 50: A community archive and exhibition marking 50 years of Luton Carnival’s Afro‑Caribbean history.
• Mary Hearne – Postcards from Home: Mixed‑media workshops supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and people with disabilities to craft expressive “postcards” about home and belonging.
• Woven voices: An intergenerational upcycled textiles project exploring identity, storytelling and sustainability.
• Thomas Young – ‘Who are you… really?’: A film and mobile exhibition collecting voices and experiences from the local community.
• Elaine Lister and Fiona Martin – Luton at Heart: A portraiture and storytelling project exploring the experiences of people recovering from heart attacks.
• SIG Penrose Roots working with Elizabeth Aldous: Sustainable fashion, natural dyeing and therapeutic craft workshops supporting mental health recovery.
• Women’s Aid in Luton working with Priya Ramkisson: Creative and micro‑enterprise sessions empowering women with complex support needs.
• Lugus Ceramics: A SEND‑led collaborative sculpture project producing a permanent sensory garden installation.
• Luton Urban Radio working with The Peter Honegan Band: A cultural event celebrating Windrush Day and Father’s Day through music, art and wellbeing messages.
• Denbigh Primary School working with local musicians, poets, and sound artists: Children capturing local sounds and spoken word to create an immersive digital artwork.
• Pioneer Learning Trust working with Lucy from Opal Arts: After‑school art clubs supporting pupils eligible for Pupil Premium.
• Sophie Gresswell – The Perpendicular Poetry Prize: An expanded poetry competition with workshops, events and two new anthologies.
• Aaron Spendelow: A suitcase theatre programme helping primary and SEND pupils co‑create stories, puppets and performances.
• Communities 1st/Trestle Theatre Company: A drama‑based CPD programme supporting teachers to develop inclusive speech and language approaches.

For more information about the projects and how to get involved in upcoming events and workshops, visit the Luton Arts website or follow @luton_arts on Instagram.

The Evolution Fund is funded by Arts Council England, Luton Rising and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with administration by Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation.