CSES has been working with ARU, Culture Chelmsford and the Spark! Youth Forum to bid for a significant national funding package that will enable three projects, including an expansion of the Chelmsford Science Festival. The full press release follows.
As part of a pilot project, we are seeking schools and industry partners who would be interested in holding an event focused on careers in the gaming industry (in the broadest sense). Please contact Adam Wood if you'd like to find out more.
Press Release: Young People Lead a Cultural Revolution in Chelmsford with Landmark £250,000 Investment
Chelmsford, Essex – Tuesday 27 May – Young people in Chelmsford are taking the lead in shaping the city's cultural future, thanks to a major £250,000 investment from Arts Council England, through the National Lottery Place Partnership Fund. This two-year, youth-led initiative marks the largest strategic cultural grant ever awarded in the district. It represents a bold new model for youth-powered civic leadership in the UK.
The Young Cultural Changemakers Programme will put 13–25-year-olds from local youth changemakers, Spark!, in the driving seat of decision-making. They’ll deliver cultural events, influence public policy, and help build a stronger, more inclusive creative economy that will benefit the Chelmsford district. The project is produced by Culture Chelmsford, and delivered in partnership with Chelmsford City Council, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford For You, and Chelmsford College.
Formed in 2022 through the Local Cultural Education Partnership (LCEP), Spark! was established to amplify young voices, remove barriers to accessing creative opportunities and develop the next generation of civic changemakers. Now, thanks to the joint investment of Arts Council England and citywide partners, this expanded programme places young people in leadership roles, shaping Chelmsford’s cultural landscape and building pathways into the UK’s £124 billion creative industries.
The initiative aligns with the district’s 10-year Cultural Strategy, published in 2023, which focuses on three strategic themes:
- Nurturing our Environment
- Improving Health and Wellbeing
- Outstanding Festivals and Events
Four bold projects, one powerful vision
Over the next two years, Spark! will deliver four high-impact projects designed to foster creative skills development, commission opportunities for creative professionals and produce a transferable model of best practice for other towns and cities across Essex and the UK:
1. Collecting Our Future (with the Museum of Chelmsford)
A city-wide campaign to co-create a new collections policy that better reflects the diversity of Chelmsford’s communities. Through exhibitions, workshops, debates and a cultural exchange with another city, young people will help define how the museum collects and curates 21st-century and locally relevant stories—with a strong focus on climate consciousness and inclusive heritage.
2. Concrete Canvas Reimagined (with Chelmsford For You)
A new wave of street art across the district co-created by local, national, and international artists, will spark public dialogue about the role of art in regeneration and city identity. This project will underpin the development of a new Public Art Strategy for Chelmsford, with discussions on cultural placemaking for everyone to get involved in.
3. Chelmsford Science Festival: Gaming Fringe (with Anglia Ruskin University)
A pioneering exploration of gaming culture and careers through creative technology workshops, events and intergenerational activities connecting tabletop to online—challenging stereotypes and opening up creative tech pathways to underrepresented groups.
4. Wrap-around Support
This holistic support offer will include mentoring, peer learning, and advisory opportunities for young people and the partners. Arts Award accreditation will help young people move into creative roles, board positions, employment and entrepreneurship.
Creating Systemic Change – Locally, regionally and Nationally
The Young Cultural Changemakers Programme is not just about creative activities—it's about long-term transformation. It addresses key challenges identified by young people themselves, including low confidence, mental health barriers, lack of industry awareness, and limited access to early creative experiences.
By giving young people genuine power and responsibility, Spark! aims to:
- Influence national conversations on skills and access to creative careers
- Inform policy and funding models for youth-led placemaking
- Serve as a blueprint for other regions to unlock the creative potential of the next generation
Isobel, Chair of Spark!, said:
“Being part of Spark! has changed how I see my future. We're not just attending events—we’re creating them, planning them, and making decisions that will contribute to Chelmsford for many future years. It’s empowering to know that as a young person our voices matter and have an impact.”
Claire Gevaux, CEO of Culture Chelmsford, said:
“This is more than an investment in culture—it’s an investment in people. Spark! represents a radical shift in how Chelmsford plans its creative future, with young people at the helm. This project brings our city together by strengthening cross-sector partnerships and generates many more opportunities for the creative sector to thrive over the next two years. This is more than a local story. The learning and models developed here have the potential to influence national policy around youth voice, skills and progression into the creative industries. We will support Young People to help shape that national conversation from right here in Chelmsford.”
Hazel Edwards, South East Area Director, Arts Council England, said:
“The Arts Council is delighted to support Spark! and the Young Cultural Changemakers Programme through our Place Partnership Fund. This ambitious, youth-led initiative is a powerful example of how creative leadership can emerge when young people are trusted with the tools and support to shape their communities. It is inspiring to see young voices empowered through decision-making, and we look forward to seeing the lasting impact this investment will have on the Chelmsford's cultural identity and creative economy.”
ENDS