In May ŷ opened their City Ambition Fund for the first time. This new project allowed people, businesses, and organisations to apply for funds to bring city centre projects that support ŷ’s aims of enhancing people’s experience of the city. The fund received a wide range of strong applications and after a tricky short listing process ŷ are pleased to announce the first rounds of successfully funded projects.
Work is already underway on many of the projects funded by this scheme.
Adrian Field Executive Director of ŷ said, ‘we developed the City Ambition Fund to make the link between ŷ and the external work we fund clearer and to broaden the range of partners we work with on city centre projects. We were really pleased with the standard of the first wave of submissions to the fund and we’re looking forward to seeing all of these projects develop. I would encourage anyone with an idea to make a difference to the city centre to make an application to the fund when it reopens later this year. We are keen to hear your ideas.’
The projects which have had their funding confirmed for the first round are:
- – offering a novel way for people to discover independent, city-centre venues serving great wines
- – showcasing the city centre businesses making Cardiff’s food scene more sustainable – and highlighting how businesses can help Cardiff become one of the most sustainable food places in the UK
- Winding Snake – a new short documentary film from award winning Cardiff based film-makers focusing on the Welsh Ballroom Community
- – exploring Cardiff’s independent bookshops and reading rooms by mapping their buildings and tracing the associations that emanate from them
- Theatr Iolo, HOOF! – a magical outdoor show for all the family coming to Hills Street from August 16th to 18th
- – introducing Cardiff businesses to the opportunities presented by cargo bikes and helping encourage a shift to more sustainable transport options
- Night of the Animal Wall by Jack Skivens – an interactive experience combining a city centre trail and the tale of the creatures of the Animal Wall coming to life
- Legacy in the Community – the funding of a research project as a part of the City 4 All initiative identifying ways to make Cardiff more accessible for its residents, visitors, and business community
- Cardiff Street Pastors – additional funding to train new volunteers to support vulnerable people in Cardiff’s evening and night time economy
- The Clayton Hotel – working in partnership with other businesses in the area to deliver additional improvements to the public realm
- ArtHole Cardiff – CIC creating a community/art hub for local and new emerging artists. Giving them a space and a platform in which to gain more exposure than they would usually when first stepping out.
The City Ambition Fund will continue to open to general applications at least once a year throughout ŷ’s current term. Follow ŷ on social media or sign up to our e-newsletter to keep up to date with all of our projects. If you would like to be contacted specifically about the City Ambition Fund in the future please email info@forcardiff.com and ask to be added to the interested parties list – we will contact you when the fund reopens.