The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded English Heritage, on behalf of the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership, a grant of £239k which will help local communities get involved in Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival – the celebrations to mark the 1900 anniversary of the building of Hadrian’s Wall.
Of the overall amount, a significant proportion will be made available in Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Community Grants to go directly to organisations and groups along the length of Hadrian’s Wall to mark the festival through events, initiatives and activities. An application process will open towards the end of April when details will be available on the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 website.
The award will also enhance one of the Festival’s landmark projects; Festival of Saturnalia – a wall-wide community celebration which will draw a close to Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival in December. Further details of how groups and individuals can take part in Saturnalia will be announced in the summer.
Extraordinary Excavators, an exhibition at Corbridge Roman Town, which aims to bring to life the stories behind the anonymous local labours who helped uncover the site in the years before World War One, will also benefit from the award.
Andrea Selley, English Heritage Territory Director North said:”This award will enable community groups in both rural and urban areas to get more involved in Hadrian’s Wall 1900 and will also allow existing projects to be extended for more people to enjoy. I’m pleased that English Heritage is able to help facilitate the award on behalf of the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership and grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their continued support of Hadrian’s Wall.”
Bill Griffiths, Chair of the HW Partnership Steering Group, said: “This award is fantastic news and will enable the festival to engage with ever more communities in exploring what 1,900 years of a World Heritage Site means to them. It also demonstrates the strength of the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership, in that different partners are able to work together to attract significant funding like this.”
David Renwick, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said “We’re delighted that thanks to National Lottery players we are able to support communities to get involved in Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival. The programme will ensure that the local community is strengthened through enabling them to better understand their heritage and history and sharing the stories that really matter to them. Hadrian’s Wall is one of many heritage treasure in the North of England and we know that projects like these are a great way of bringing people together and creating pride of place.”
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For more information:
Kate Maughan-Brown, PR Manager North & Midlands at English Heritage
Kate.maughan-brown@english-heritage.org.uk / 07920 181 666
English Heritage cares for over 400 historic monuments, buildings and sites – from world famous prehistoric sites to grand medieval castles, from Roman forts on the edges of the empire to Cold War bunkers. Through these, we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million visitors each year. www.english-heritage.org.uk Registered charity no. 1140351
Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival
Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival is funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and supported by Arts Council England, Northumberland County Council, Historic England and the Herbert Esmond Robbins Trust.
To find our more information visit : https://1900.hadrianswallcountry.co.uk
Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival celebrates the 1900th anniversary of the beginning of the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. It commemorates 1900 years of history of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), recognised locally, nationally, and internationally, as a cultural and historical asset of Outstanding Universal Value to humanity.
Throughout 2022, a programme of events and activity which celebrates 1900 years of Hadrian’s Wall is being presented by local societies, interest groups, community and arts organisations, creatives, local authorities, visitor attractions, venues, and individuals. It takes place across the length of the Hadrian’s Wall Frontiers of the Roman Empire UNESCO World Heritage Site, from Wallsend to Ravenglass (73 miles/118km of Wall, and 140 miles/215km in total).
From community events to high profile arts commissions, Hadrian’s Wall 1900 provides opportunities for everyone to celebrate and find their connection to the World Heritage Site whether it be Roman history, dark skies, the natural environment, cultural diversity, food, music, the arts and more.
Hadrian’s Wall 1900 is coordinated by the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership in collaboration with local organisations, communities, and individuals.
The Hadrian’s Wall Partnership is a voluntary body made up of organisations responsible for the UNESCO World Heritage Site status of Hadrian’s Wall. Find out more about the partnership here.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
Since The National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £43 billion for projects and more than 635,000 grants have been awarded across the UK. More than £30 million raised each week goes to good causes across the UK.
