A creative arts programme for young people in Presteigne has received a major funding boost, thanks to a £19,804 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund in Wales.

This funding will help sustain the Sidney Nolan Trust’s popular MAKE arts programme for children aged 7 to 11 over the next two years.

The Sidney Nolan Trust, a rural arts charity based at The Rodd near Presteigne, was founded in 1985 by the celebrated Australian artist Sir Sidney Nolan. Nolan, who spent the last ten years of his life at The Rodd, left a significant legacy in the arts, and the Trust continues to celebrate his influence today. The Trust is home to the world’s largest collection of his artwork and also cares for Rodd Court, a Grade II* listed Jacobean Manor House and surrounding farmland.

The MAKE programme, which runs on Monday afternoons during term time at Presteigne's Youth Centre, provides local young people with the opportunity to engage in a variety of creative activities such as drawing, printmaking, photography, animation, and puppetry. These weekly sessions, led by local artists Sophie Ferrier and Olivia Mabey, allow participants to explore their creativity while developing valuable skills that enhance their confidence and social abilities.

The new funding from the National Lottery Community Fund will ensure the continued success of this community-driven initiative. The Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, is dedicated to supporting projects that benefit local communities, with a particular focus on helping children and young people thrive. The Sidney Nolan Trust’s MAKE programme fits perfectly with this mission, providing young people in a rural area with access to the arts at a time when such opportunities are increasingly limited in schools.

Antony Mottershead, Curator and Creative Producer at the Sidney Nolan Trust, shared his enthusiasm for the impact of the programme.

“We’re proud to be enabling young people in our rural area to get hands-on through MAKE with a range of creative ideas and processes,” he said.

“We know that the arts are increasingly pushed to the margins of education and the support of The National Lottery Community Fund enables us to maintain this vibrant artist-led programme in the heart of our community.

“Alongside developing their creativity and problem-solving we also see our participants growing in confidence, social skills and aspiration.”

The Trust also offers the Cultivate programme for older teens (ages 11-18), providing ongoing opportunities for creative growth and development. As participants transition from MAKE to Cultivate, they are encouraged to continue their creative journey and engage with professional artists in a supportive environment.

The latest session of MAKE resumed this week, and runs through to Monday, May 19. There is no MAKE on Monday, May 5 (Bank Holiday) and Monday, May 27 (half-term). MAKE will then resume on Monday, June 2 until Monday, July 7.

To find out more about the programme or to sign up, please email: [email protected]

For more information about the Sidney Nolan Trust, please visit www.sidneynolantrust.org