Arts Council England ‘Let’s Create’ Jubilee Fund

Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the ‘Let’s Create Jubilee Fund’ has been administered by UK Community Foundations on behalf of Arts Council England. The programme has enabled voluntary and community organisations to develop creative and cultural events to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June. The Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation has awarded grants for 11 projects and further details about them can be found below.  

Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society (BDCPS) – Bedford

Thursday 2nd June 2022

  • Costume making, creation of a new dance and theatre performance with disabled young people. A film will be created to document the project.

Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society – Enabling people with complex disabilities to live life their way (bdcps.charity)

Bedfordshire Hospitals and NHS Charity – Bedford / Luton

Various June dates (staff only)

  • Wellbeing workshops for staff through the medium of art. Art exhibition displaying the works created by staff and local school children unveiled during a ‘celebration of thanks’ for all NHS staff who worked through the pandemic. Permanent installation of 2 vinyl artworks at each hospital site in memory of the Jubilee.    

take heART – Charity (bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk)

Clophill Village Hall – Clophill
Thursday 2nd June

  • A celebration focussing on nature, trees, pride in the countryside and eco education. Live action musical performance, crafts using natural materials and interactive ‘Walkabout Theatre’. The project will inspire a connection with nature and aims to use creativity to engage children and families in conservation.

Clophill Parish Council – The closest tier of government to you (clophill-pc.gov.uk)

Headway – Luton

June various

  • Creation of tiaras using a range of materials and techniques which will be displayed at a performance of original songs performed by people living with a long term brain injury.

Headway Luton – Supporting people with Acquired Brain Injury

Living it Up Events – Bedford

  • A 1950s style street party created by disabled young people paired with a performance of music and theatre from the 1950s. An educational project looking at Britain in the 1950s. 

Charitable Organisation | Living It Up Events | Bedford

Luton Sixth Form College – Luton

Thursday 9th June 2022

  • Performances and live music shows paired with visual art installations on the grounds. Costume design and creation leading up to the event. Installation of a commemorative piece of art. A festival for the whole community by the dance staff. 

Luton Sixth Form College (lutonsfc.ac.uk)

NINE RED Presents CIC – Luton

Sunday 26th June 2022

  • A Jubilee Festival involving theatre and musical performances, Art Medicine and poetry reading. Showcases from local dance and drama groups and DJs. Installation of fallen tree park ‘benches’ and community sporting events.

Home – NINE RED Presents…(CIC) – Art Undefined

Pegasus Opera Company – Bedford

Friday 3rd June 2022

  • A collaboration with Legacy of the Windrush Descendants (LOWD) creating 3 intergenerational ‘pop up’ singing events. Performance of a Caribbean Jubilee song in Bedford town centre culminating in a short concert performed at All Saints Church, paired with an exhibition of local Windrush archive photos and food to commemorate how the Caribbean community were invited to come to the UK to help rebuild Great Britain after WW2.

Pegasus Opera | London Opera Company (pegasusoperacompany.org)

Queens Park Community Organisation – Bedford

Saturday 4th June

  • Community festival withperformances from local emerging artists, food and a Jubilee festival parade involving costumes created by schools and community groups. 

Queen’s Park Community Organisation | Facebook

Woman’s Aid – Luton

June 2022

  • A collaboration between Women’s Aid, Stepping Stones and Full House Theatre Company providing workshops for children in Luton who have experienced domestic abuse.

Women’s Aid in Luton | Facebook


Alif Events CIC – Luton

Saturday 4th June 2022

  • Design and creation of Jubilee costumes, and carnival parade performance routines involving refugees.

HOME | WO RAASTA (alifcommunities.com)

Darren Henley, Chief Executive at Arts Council England said ‘The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund is a wonderful example of our ambition to give everyone the opportunity to participate in and experience the arts, culture and creativity – made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Thanks to this funding we’ll see communities across England coming together through the month of June to celebrate a historic milestone for this country. I’m excited to see these projects brought to life in villages, towns and cities across the country as our wonderfully creative communities celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.’

HM Queen Elizabeth II is the first monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, having overtaken Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch in 2015. Her reign has been marked by a commitment to public service, reflected by her extensive programme of engagements at home and abroad, and support for over 600 cultural organisations, charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service organisations.