Creative Interventions
Through our ‘Creative Interventions’ strand, we commission projects that address the needs of targeted communities. These often have the least access to arts and culture and may be facing specific social challenges where an art intervention could help.
Addressing social challenges through art
We invite creatives to work alongside people with lived experience of these challenges, co‑creating and delivering projects that genuinely support their needs.
This could include people experiencing social isolation or poor wellbeing, as well as those who are under‑represented in art and culture because of their background or personal circumstances. It may also include people facing oppression or racism, or those dealing with everyday challenges such as living with a disability.
Through these projects, we aim to make a real difference in people’s lives while also helping local creatives develop the specialist skills they need to keep delivering meaningful, art‑led support in these communities.
We have recently commissioned creative interventions with refugees and asylum seekers, prisoners, young offenders and care home residents.
Working with Bedford Prison
As part of our Creative Interventions programme, we have explored opportunities for creatives to work with prisoners in Bedford and find out more about the benefits and challenges associated with creative work in a prison.
An initial workshop event took place on 26th May 2026 at HMP Bedford and was open to local creatives keen to learn more about the prison. Staff from HMP Bedford explained what life is like in this town centre prison and offered their perspective on how creativity and art might support rehabilitation objectives. Creatives had a chance to see inside the prison and ask questions about working in this context.
The follow-up ‘response’ session was held on 25th June. Read our news article here.
