Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage, is welcoming the £100,000 investment into Gosport’s High Street and heritage from Historic England announced today.
Historic England, which is a non-departmental public body and funded by the government, is awarding six high streets across the South East a total of £530,000 to fund high street cultural programmes.
Led by Hampshire Cultural Trust, the £100,000 will fund guided walking and cycling tours of Gosport’s High Street and town, as well as ‘First Timers Festivals’ to encourage visitors to try something creative. This festival will provide an opportunity for local artists and traders to sell their goods and there will be creative grants for projects in and around the high street.
The High Streets Heritage Action Zone will be supporting workshops, artists commissions, heritage and history talks and projects to breathe life into the high street and town centre.
Caroline, who is also the Culture Minister, commented:
“High streets are often the heart of our communities and should be places we all want to engage with and enjoy. As restrictions have slowly, it has been fantastic to see businesses reopen and people out and about. However, I know many residents are keen to see further investment in our high street as we build back better.
“I hope these grants will help transform high streets, like Gosport, into thriving cultural hubs - encouraging us to embrace all the joys our town centres have to offer."
Emily Gee, Regional Director, Historic England in London and the South East, said:
“The High Streets Cultural Programme is such an important – and exciting – way of bringing people back to their cherished high streets in need of love. We are working together to regenerate historic high streets through conservation and building work, and this community-led cultural activity programme will draw people back to enliven and shape these special places for the future.”
