One week until Her Majesty’s Jubilee Weekend!

With just one week to go before the UK and Commonwealth countries celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 70^th anniversary of ascending to the throne, local community groups have been busy preparing creative and cultural activities.

We have been excited to see community activities getting underway in Milton Keynes, ahead of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

In April this year, MK Community Foundation, along with 43 other community foundations in the UKCF network, were able to distribute over 700 grants totalling £4.58m to community groups throughout England from our Let’s Create Jubilee Fund, on behalf of Arts Council England, the national development agency for creativity and culture. This was made possible thanks to National Lottery players. The funding will help to build community cohesion by connecting local artists and voluntary organisations that have not previously collaborated.  

In many instances, projects will create pieces of legacy artwork that will remain long after the celebrations have ended; At Old School Wolverton a Crown commemorative structure will be unveiled, made by Arts Gateway and Crafty Monday’s Group.

Many of the funded activities are supporting diverse communities to build awareness and celebrate inclusivity in creative ways; Middle Eastern Cultural Group are taking people on a ‘journey through time to celebrate some of the most accomplished women in history, from the first Pharaoh Queen to the Queen of all Queens, Elizabeth II.’

Emily Purchase, Philanthropy Manager at MK Community Foundation, said “It’s been so exciting to see the different ways communities are celebrating this momentous occasion. The people of Milton Keynes will be spoilt for choice over the Jubilee weekend, and it’s sure to be a real celebration of communities and the arts. It’s been fantastic to be able to distribute funding from Arts Council England to give local groups the chance to come up with creative ways to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 year’s on the throne.”

Rosemary Macdonald, CEO at UK Community Foundations, said “Occasions like this don’t come around very often. The events, installations, and celebrations that the Let’s Create Jubilee Fund helped support will live long in the memory once the bank holiday weekend has passed. However, for now we want the public to get involved and enjoy diverse range of creative talent that will be on show across the country.”  

Find out more about funded activities happening in your area over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend here.