Five Blackpool creatives share in landmark Seed Fund 10 July 2026 by Visit Blackpool Five Blackpool-based creatives and creative businesses have been announced as the first recipients of the Creative Blackpool Seed Fund, the town's new dedicated investment programme for local creative talent. The Fund, delivered through Creative Blackpool's Arts Council England Place Partnership, attracted an overwhelming 50 applications from across the town's creative community, reflecting the depth and ambition of Blackpool's growing creative sector. The five funded creatives span performance, theatre, dance, singing, music, sound, Dj-ing, visual arts, craft, photography and creative events, reflecting the breadth of talent within Blackpool's creative community. Kerry Vasiliou, Partnership Director at Creative Blackpool, said: "Fifty applications for our first ever Seed Fund is a clear sign of the talent and ambition that exists right across Blackpool's creative community. Choosing just five recipients was no easy task, and it speaks to the strength of what we saw come through. “This Fund is about more than one-off support. It's about backing the people who will shape Blackpool's creative future, giving them the resources and confidence to develop ideas that might otherwise stay on the shelf. We can't wait to see what these five go on to create, and we're already looking forward to opening the next round." Keith & Ruth from Black Liver, one of the successful applicants said: "This funding means the world to us. ‘Gallery of Rogues’ is about telling the stories of women who've been left out of the picture literally and historically and now we get to do that with the communities that matter so much to us." The Seed Fund forms part of Creative Blackpool's wider ambition to build a sustainable creative ecosystem in the town, supporting local talent and strengthening Blackpool's cultural offer as part of its long-term regeneration story. Updates on the funded projects, including new photography and video, will be shared throughout the year, with a second Seed Fund round planned in the Autumn. For more information about Creative Blackpool and the Seed Fund, visit creativeblackpool.com Photo Credit: Andy Hollingworth