Welcome to the Neuroverse! 💫
After receiving an autism diagnosis at 29, poet Matthew J Fowler began using creativity to explore his experiences and connect with others through poetry. ✍
With National Lottery Funding through Developing Your Creative Practice and support from NPO @hubbubtheatre , Matthew created ‘Welcome to the Neuroverse’, a collection of poems and immersive performances that invite audiences into the world of autism and hidden disabilities - “It's a chance for people to see into my world.” 🌍Matthew J Fowler.
Matthew has since performed at festivals across Derbyshire and has been successful in receiving a National Lottery Project Grant to continue growing the Neuroverse community.
Find out more in our latest blog post, linked in our bio.
#ACESupported thanks to #NationalLottery players! 🤞
📷 Chris Webb Photography
#CreativityandWellbeingWeek
🔨 The sixth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), worth £25.25m, is here. Take a moment to read the guidance ahead of submitting an Expression of Interest via our portal.
If you are a non-national Accredited museum, or a local authority that maintains non-national Accredited museums, you can apply for:
👷️ Protecting building fabric or structure
🏛️ Upgrading your building services
🖼️ Protecting your exhibits and collections
🌿Improving environmental performance
🤝Addressing access barriers
Head to the link in our bio to read the full guidance and apply.
Image credit: London Transport Museum
In South Somerset, artists and children are helping shape a new future for their town centre.
Yeovil Art Space (@yeovilartspace ) has secured £400,000 to lead on ‘Yeovil Reimagine’ - a new initiative in partnership with the local council. The two-year programme will create more opportunities for the community to come together and co-create a better future.
Made possible with a £200,000 grant from our National Lottery Place Partnership Fund and match-funding from partners, the programme will intend to deliver:
- New public realm commissions by major UK and international artists
- Creative enterprise opportunities for young people
- Free cultural events in everyday spaces
“Together, we can start to shape Yeovil town centre into a vibrant hub of activity for all, creating a place that people are proud to visit and call home,” says Natasha Rand, Engagement Director at Yeovil Art Space and Connect Somerset Champion.
🔗 Tap the link in bio to read more.
Image credits:
1. Yeovil Art Weekender 2026. Credit Kiera Miles.
2. Picture By Jim Wileman – Yeovil Art Space, Yeovil, Somerset.
3. Yeovil Art Space Summer School with artist Lupe Velazquez and Jojo Ives, 2025. Courtesy of Yeovil Art Space.
@nationallotterygoodcauses #ThanksToYou #SouthSomerset #PlacePartnership
What happens when creativity brings out someone's potential? 🎈
Bamboozle Theatre (@bamboozletheatre ) is a Leicester-based NPO that has been providing creative opportunities for learning disabled and autistic young people and their families for over 30 years.
Their latest production, Airship, is an immersive, sensory show for children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. It’s inspired by Eye of the Storm, a book written by 22-year-old Amy Mayo.
Amy has been attending Bamboozle productions since she was 5 years old. She has severe cerebral palsy, complex medical needs and communicates by blinking. When she was growing up, her family were often told what she wouldn’t be able to do. But Bamboozle were different. They believed in her potential. And they created a space where she could feel heard, included and empowered to express herself creatively.
“Bamboozle will always hold a sentimental value for me as one of the first places that I felt understood with no judgment.” ✨ Amy Mayo.
Read Amy’s story at the link in bio.
#ACEsupported thanks to the #NationalLottery
📷 Bamboozle’s production of Airship which is designed for audiences who might be described as having profound and multiple learning disabilities. Photos by Darren Staples Photography
📖 Libraries Development Framework – applications now open!
As a national recognition and celebration of outstanding and impactful practice in libraries, the Framework highlights services delivering excellent work for their communities and supports continued improvement across the sector.
The deadline to apply is 12pm, 22 July 2026.
Find out more and apply via the link in our bio 👆
#LibrariesDevelopment #Libraries
“From the legacy of Madchester to hosting the BRITs, the MOBOs and the 6 Music Festival in the same season, there’s a real sense of energy shifting north”
A few months on from the first BRIT Awards to be hosted outside of London, there are still traces of the impact dotted around Manchester. And for the artists and organisations that made it happen, this is just the beginning. ✨ 🎶
We spoke to National Portfolio Organisations @the_halle and @brightersound about the vital role they played in the BRITs back in February, performing on stage with Alex Warren and creating the first ever BRITs Fringe, respectively. As well as Developing Your Creative Practice funded artist @kim_a_tron who created a mural as part of the BRITs art trail, curated by Manchester artist Stanley Chow.
Read the full article to find out more about how these local organisations and artists took part in the UKs biggest night in music, and what it means for this shift North.
🔗 Head to the link in our bio
Image credits: 1. The BRITs/The Hallé 2. Brighter Sound showcase. Photo by Rebecca Oliver. 3. Artwork by Kim Thompson. 3. BBC Proms. Mahlers Resurrection Symphony. Photo by BBC Chris Christodoulou 4. Brighter Sound showcase. Photo by Rebecca Oliver
#TheBrits
“We have the ability to give people back their why. If you have a poem that gets reflected back at you – it makes you feel proud of what you’re doing, it makes you feel seen, it really boosts the energy in these spaces.”
Hear from Liv Torc and Chris Redmond from @Hot_Poets , an organisation using poetry to change the climate conversation for a better future. 🌱
From their Somerset base, they nurture a cohort of creative changemakers and work alongside climate scientists and education partners to bring about positive action.
Using funding from National Lottery Project Grants, they’ve employed over 20 poets to deliver workshops, launched their ‘Wonder, Thunder, Blunder’ collection of children’s poems for ages 9 to 13 with poet @iammichaelrosen and spoken word artists, and now lead on ‘Ignite’ an 18-month education programme.
This October, they’re teaming up with #NationalPoetryDay to create digital resources and workshops for over 20,000 schools in the UK.
#NationaLottery #ThanksToYou
Music is for everyone 🎵
Lancashire Music Service are showing what inclusive music education looks like in practice - from their Accessible Instrument Library to their award-winning Mobile Music Vehicle.
This is just one example of the brilliant inclusion work happening across Music Hubs nationwide. 🙌
Watch the full film and find out more about the Music Hub programme via the link in our bio.
From a scratch night in Salford to one of the biggest shows in the West End! 🎭
Operation Mincemeat began life in much more humble surroundings - first developed at #ACEsupported @the_lowry before transferring to smaller London theatres.
With the help of a £15,000 grant, the show grew into the award-winning West End phenomenon audiences know today.
Now, it’s embarking on a world tour, supported by our new Incentivising Touring scheme, helping more people across the country and around the world experience this incredible show. ✨
A powerful reminder of what early investment in creativity can become.
Head to our YouTube channel to meet the team behind Operation Mincemeat and hear what they have to say about it. (Link in bio!)
#OperationMincemeat #ACEsupported #WestEnd #UKTheatre #NationalLottery
Libraries Improvement Fund Round 5 is now open! 📚
Library services in England can apply for capital funding to upgrade buildings, spaces and digital infrastructure, helping libraries become more flexible, more accessible and better connected to their communities.
The funding can be used for:
Flexible spaces 💻
Improved buildings🏛️
Stronger digital access 🌍
A total of £5.5m is available for 2026–27.
Find out more and apply via our website. (Link in bio.) 🔗
#Libraries #LibrariesImprovementFund #InvestingInLibraries #CommunitySpaces #DigitalAccess
Image credit: Henleaze Library
At a time when the climate, nature and justice crisis is reshaping every corner of society, taking action has never been more important.
Today the reporting window has opened for all @aceagrams NPOs and IPSOs to upload your environmental data for 2025/2026.
By sharing our collective insights and stories, we can demonstrate the real scale of action being taken - the commitment, creativity and a sector stepping boldly into climate leadership.
Reporting is done directly via our #CreativeClimateTools and there’s a collection of bite-size video tutorials and 1-2-1 trouble shooting appointments available online to help you input the right data, analyse it and take action.
By reporting before Fri 26 June, the information you provide will be collated, analysed and published in our Environmental Programme Annual Report, alongside inspiring stories from across the @aceagrams portfolio.
Culture changes how we live, what we care for and what contacts us to what matters. Let’s seize this opportunity to take bold transformative action.
Report your data, share your insights, join the movement!
Head to the link in our bio to access the Creative Climate Tools and resources.
#CreativeClimateAction #ClimateAction #Environment #ACEsupported
