Culture Start

Culture Start is a transformational three-year programme that aims to reduce the long-term impact of poverty and improve life chances for children and young people in Sunderland through access to free creative opportunities.

It is delivered by a strong cross sector partnership of organisations, led by Sunderland Culture, working with brilliant arts and cultural organisations, artists and creative practitioners across Sunderland.

In its first year, Culture Start focused on building strong partnerships and testing approaches to ensure the programme is meaningful, impactful and genuinely co-created.

Culture Start supported Sunderland schools to embed creativity across the curriculum, and Holiday Sparks and Creative Sparks Clubs offered high-quality arts experiences for children under 12, delivered in familiar community settings with trusted local partners and artists.

The Igniting Creative Futures programme for young people aged 13–18 was piloted with the launch of Ignite Bursaries, supporting 47 young people to pursue creative interests with financial support.

Culture Start also delivered training, collaboration and pilot projects with artists, venues and organisations, to work towards creating a more accessible creative offer in Sunderland, including Poverty Proofing arts and cultural spaces. Research and evaluation is undertaken by the University of Sunderland’s Institute of Economic and Social Inclusion, with learning helping to shape local policy and practice.

Looking ahead, Year 2 will focus on deepening relationships with schools, delivering Creative Sparks Clubs and Holiday Sparks provision, awarding a second round of Ignite Bursaries and officially launching Future Creatives – a free creative community for young people.

If you would like to know more about Culture Start’s programme during 2024-25, read the First Year Review

Sunderland Culture Annual Review 2024-25