Photos by Lauren Quayle (Quayle Social)
Winter DeLight at Victoria Park in Widnes saw the official public launch of Culture 26: Made In Halton – made possible by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham.
It is part of the Mayor’s 2% for Culture initiative, which is ringfenced funding from the Combined Authority’s budget that goes directly to support cultural initiatives across the city region.
With lanterns, puppetry, choirs, bands and young soloists, the community was treated to a free event thanks to Cultivate member, Victoria Park Environment Team, with support from Halton Housing.
The whole Culture 26 year is about celebrating what we have in Halton, where we come from and what we are capable of when we come together and raise everyone up. It is shouting about, and building on, existing events and making culture accessible for all, from familiar and comfortable venues to small grants to enable the first foray into creative funding opportunities.
The Crucible of Culture, a strategy commissioned in 2022 after Halton’s first borough of culture is guiding the team through to its review in 2030, and Halton Borough Council is committed to providing support for the Cultivate Halton network and enabling the development of world class arts and creativity on our doorstep.
This programme follows the four elements outlined in the Cultural Strategy: Leadership, Communication, Diversity and Dynamism, and for this programme culture means performance/ theatre, music, dance, literature, digital media and visual arts with acknowledgement of the importance of heritage, science, environment and nature to the borough.
Halton Borough Council and their official Culture 26 partner, Cultivate Halton, are delighted to announce that the first project has been to award ten Aspire Grants – all applicants have now been notified and the successful projects will be announced in January.
Cultivate and Halton Borough Council will support those who missed out on an Aspire grant to develop their projects and source suitable funding where possible. This is the commitment from the partnership with Cultivate Halton to ensure that our culture is Made in Halton. All the events and activities will have opportunities for you to be involved and for your culture to have a moment in the spotlight.
The Aspire Grants projects will be front and centre of the cultural programme in 2026 alongside a training and communications programme from Cultivate Halton.
The following projects will take place in 2026, with more to be announced throughout the year.
- Widnes Market stall, pop-up performances and exhibitions
- Beyond The Tracks music trains
- Bookends Festival with Libraries and Norton Priory
- Culture coach trips and Halton Castle Open Days
- Music 26
- New art murals and public art trails
- Runcorn Town Hall gallery takeover
- Halton Fest, Market Fest, Eco Fest and Film Fest
- Culture Awards
- Lewis Carroll Daresbury Trail development
- Cabaret Pride, Arts in the Right Place, and Spooky Season Special at The Brindley
- Light-up Halton event, and more…
Cultural Responder volunteers will also be recruited to support the events and activities.
Steve Rotherham, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Metro Mayor, commented:
“Since I was elected in 2017, I’ve made it a priority to protect and invest in culture, because time and again we’ve seen the impact it has on our communities and our economy. Cultural investment brings people together, boosts local businesses, sparks creativity and opens minds to new ideas.
“I want to cement our region’s reputation as the UK’s cultural capital, and programmes like this are key to making that ambition a reality. I’m really excited to see Halton take centre stage and can’t wait to see what the community has in store for its year in the cultural spotlight.”
Cllr Laura Bevan, whose Executive Board portfolio includes Culture and Leisure Services, says:
“Halton has a rich cultural heritage, arguably not always getting the recognition it deserves. Having lived here all my life, I’ve seen first-hand the incredible creativity and imagination that runs through our borough. That’s why I’m thrilled we have the chance to showcase it through this year’s Borough of Culture.
“This will be a year of celebration—and just as importantly, a year of community—as we shine a light on what makes us proud to call Halton home. I can’t wait for residents to experience some of the exciting plans we have in store. Our goal is for Culture 26 to create a lasting legacy that goes far beyond this one year.”
Chris Bastock Chair of Cultivate Halton, commented.
“Cultivate Halton is proud to be working with Halton Borough Council to support the ambitious Culture 26 programme. Culture can be hard to define, but here it means the creative experiences that inspire, entertain and bring people together. It includes theatre, music, art, museums, libraries, schools, community spaces and live music in local pubs. During Culture 26 activities will be led by creatives who live, work and play in the borough – it is by Halton communities, for Halton communities.
“Culture has the power to make us laugh, reflect, connect with others and better understand our past and present. In Halton, culture plays an important role in everyday life, supporting wellbeing and offering enjoyment, especially during challenging times.
“Our vision is to work with local partners and communities to support ambitious and creative cultural activity linked to the borough’s heritage and future, with the aim of making high-quality culture accessible to everyone.”