How might an Access Bursary support creatives in Rochdale?

Access bursaries are designed to support creatives to take part in professional and practice development, where finances would otherwise be a barrier. In Rochdale, these relatively small funding pots have enabled a wide range of outcomes from materials, course fees, to travel and expenses, to wider personal impacts such as increased confidence, improved wellbeing and motivation.

‘I had a really positive experience with the GM Arts Bursary. The process was clear and supportive throughout. I’m very grateful for the opportunity, and the bursary allowed me to access training and resources that would otherwise have been difficult to fund’.

‘The impact of the GM Art Bursary on my creativity is priceless. It has helped me to invest in tangible assets which will allow me to continue to create quality content for my work moving forward. It has also provided me the opportunity to meet my creative goal for the year 2025, setting me up to start the new year with clarity and direction’.

Participants at Create Rochdale take part in a creative activity.

The feedback received from the first round of bursaries also highlighted the financial pressure many creatives are facing, and the impact this has on their ability to progress and develop their work:

‘The financial support has enabled me to take up a course that wouldn’t be available to me otherwise’.

‘The whole process felt incredibly accessible and straightforward, from the application stage right through to receiving the funds. As a working-class artist needing financial support to get a project off the ground, the bursary came at exactly the right time. These bursaries are genuinely impactful - at a time when the wider funding landscape for artists feels convoluted and limited, having something local, clear and achievable is a real lifeline’.

There was also a sense of validation for the creatives who were granted bursaries, that they were perceived as artists and worth investing in:

‘I shared my vision…as someone that doesn’t come from a traditional arts background. The very fact that it was granted gave me confidence to have faith in my journey.’

 Many recipients shared how the bursaries enabled them to access training to develop expertise:

‘I am now learning to measure how nature connection and art in nature can support our mental health and relationship with our environment’.

‘The bursary allowed me to complete training in both Makaton and in supporting children with selective mutism, as well as purchase additional resources to improve the accessibility of my sessions. This has had a significant impact on my practice: I now feel better equipped to work inclusively with young people who have additional communication needs. The training allows me to deliver drama sessions that are more responsive, adaptable and empowering for children in Rochdale.’

Others shared how the funding unlocked other support, and enabled them to take their work to the next level:

‘The bursary allowed me to work with a dramaturg on my debut play, giving me dedicated, supported development time. That early investment made all the difference: it directly contributed to the play eventually being staged. Without the bursary, I don’t believe the project would have taken off in the way it did. It opened the door for me to explore my voice as a playwright, pay for proper script development, and ultimately self-produce, perform, and tour my one-woman play - a major step forward for my creative growth’.

‘Receiving my arts bursary gave me access to materials I couldn’t otherwise afford that really helped take my first solo exhibition to the next level! Being a self employed artist comes with a precarious income which is often very stressful, and grants such as these provide vital access to the arts for working class creatives such as myself, thank you so much!’

‘I’m extremely grateful for the support from the GM Arts Bursary. It has made a meaningful difference to my professional development and to the quality of provision I can offer locally. The process was well organised, and the funding offers a practical and positive impact on the young people I work with in Borough’.

 It is clear from these responses that even small bursaries can make a significant difference:

My experience with the GM Arts Bursary has been wonderful. The opportunity came at the right time, and it has enabled me to continue creating meaningful work

Beyond creative professionals, the bursaries also provide an invaluable connection between local, emerging creative talent and the local authority cultural teams, which may lead to the sustainability and diversity of the creative and cultural workforce in Rochdale in the longer term.

My final feedback will be to say a massive thank you to everyone supporting this initiative. You are empowering real people who care about their creative practice. Thank you for the opportunity.

Having funding opportunities administered locally is invaluable. It strengthens engagement between artists and local authorities and helps us feel genuinely seen and supported. It also removes a lot of the intimidation that comes with large national funds, making the process feel far more approachable and achievable.

With thanks to all recipients who provided feedback on their experiences, and to Cartwheel Arts who administered the bursaries on behalf of Rochdale.

Participants at Create Rochdale take part in presentations to share practice.