THE Bridgwater Town Deal board and Somerset Council have revealed the list of successful applicants from the first round of their grant programme.

Grants for local event organisers were available in the range of £500-£10,000.

It has hoped that the council scheme will support organisations in their delivery of new events and activities that will draw people to the Town Centre and re-energise Bridgwater. 

Five local organisers were successful in obtaining funding from the first round of the program.

A music-film festival called Mayhem scheduled for May 2024, received the most money of all, being granted £8,500.

The festival will take place across Bridgwater venues including Scott Cinema; featuring films, documentaries, singalong films and guest speakers.

Bridgwater Independent Market received the second biggest grant of £6,635.

The money will be used to provide free activities and entertainment alongside their monthly markets from September to December and including a collaboration with Out and Proud Bridgwater. 

Somerset Youth Theatre was awarded £3,750. They hope to start a weekly group in Hamp from January 2024 and aim to create an immersive performance in Bridgwater Town in June 2024.

A community-led creative charity called Seed were awarded £3,400 towards their new interactive and augmented reality exhibition called Hidden Station.

The unique display is inspired by stories from local commuters at Bridgwater railway station running for nine months from July.   

Music lovers will be pleased to learn that The Sound of the Streets were awarded £3,200 to produce a free day of high-quality music in October. The day will feature two professional bands and a youth band.

"We hope that this grant and the events it funds creates a culture for residents and visitors that Bridgwater is a vibrant town with much to do.” Said Ruth Lambert, co-chair of the grant decision panel.

"The quality and range of events selected so far have demonstrated great imagination, innovation, and enthusiasm," added Cllr Ros Wyke, Lead Member for Economy, Planning and Assets at Somerset Council.

The Animating Bridgwater Grant was first made available in May, when the town secured £23.2 million in funding from the government under the Town Deal.