Northfleet, 22 May 2025 – Sixteen local creatives and organisations have been awarded funding to develop their work and strengthen the town’s growing creative scene throughout the rest of 2025. From artists and makers to community organisers and cultural entrepreneurs, the recipients reflect the breadth of talent and ambition found across Northfleet today.
The funding is part of the Northfleet Place Partnership—a programme to support people, spaces and creative ideas across the town. The partnership is nurturing homegrown local talent by helping individuals, businesses and organisations develop their work at all stages of their creative journey. It is a collaboration between Gravesham Borough Council, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and Creative Estuary—the creative development agency for the Thames Estuary.
Caggy Kerlogue, Creative Assets & Place Manager at Creative Estuary, said: “Northfleet is brimming with creative energy, and this inspiring group of local people represent the depth of talent across our diverse communities. These grants will support local creative people and projects, and through this investment we are building a thriving and inclusive creative economy in Northfleet”.
The awarded grants span three key funding streams:
Creative Impact Grants
Awarded to support established organisations and programmes in expanding their reach and cultural impact:
· Blueprint Arts – Layers of Life Project
· No Wall’s Garden – Community spaces revamp
· Cement Fields – Ebbsfleet Citizens Archive
· Mona Whitton – Mixed media workshops for Northfleet Carnival float
Creative Enterprise Grants
Awarded to creative entrepreneurs and businesses, alongside mentoring and skills development support:
· Abolore Sobayo – Jelosimi Art Centre
· Kristina Smith – Ark Heritage and Jewellery
· Natasha Osei – Talent management and marketing agency
· Ulla Tervo – Architect promoting Healthy Buildings
Creative Development Grants
Awarded to individuals to kickstart or develop their creative practices:
· Harriet Hammond – Jewellery design and silver sculpture
· Mandy Hudson – Printing and etching
· Matthew Lorcan Davies – Sportswear and outdoor equipment designer
· Yasmin Flowers – Ceramics
· Jonathan Sinou – Photography
· Steven Knowles – Mixed media
· Precious Okungbowa – Content creator and presenter
· Robin Dixon – Painting
The awarded projects span a diverse range of creative activities and ambitions. Grantees will be using the funding to enhance their professional practice through skills development, new equipment, and community engagement. This includes establishing businesses in jewellery design, garment creation, printmaking, and pottery; purchasing high-quality materials and tools to elevate the value and sustainability of their work; and building digital platforms to increase visibility and sales. Others will use the funding to deliver creative workshops, host community events such as artisan markets, and expand cultural archives and storytelling initiatives with local schools. Projects also aim to combat social isolation, improve access to creative spaces, and build stronger networks among local creatives.
Cllr Deborah Croxton, Gravesham Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure commented: “We’re proud to celebrate and support these individuals and organisations, each contributing something unique to Northfleet’s creative future. This programme brings real, lasting investment into our communities and recognises the incredible potential already here.”
Kevin McGeough, Head of Strategy and Placemaking at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation said: “Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is thrilled to be part of a dynamic partnership with Creative Estuary and Gravesham Borough Council, working together to support and attract creative talent to Northfleet. Through combining our investment and expertise we have been delighted to realise the value and additionality our collaborative approach can bring.”
Jo Cowan, Cultural Development Manager at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation said: “I have been greatly encouraged by how the Place Partnership collaboration with Creative Estuary and Gravesham Borough Council has enabled a grants scheme which will not only propel creative and cultural growth but has also revealed the remarkable depth of talent already within Northfleet. This talent underlines the community’s potential to shape a lasting creative legacy. We look forward to the exciting programme of creative activity happening throughout this year.”
As part of the programme’s next phase, a series of commissioned community cultural events will take place across Northfleet in 2025, activating key Northfleet locations and showcasing the work and talents of the grant recipients. A further round of Creative Development Grant awardees will also be announced in the near future.
To find out more information about our awardees please visit: https://www.creativeestuary.com/insight/northfleet-place-partnership-programme-awardees/
NOTES TO EDITORS:
GRAVESHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL is the local authority for Gravesham on the Thames Estuary in Kent. Home to 106,900 people, the borough is one of the most diverse communities in Kent, mirrored in the variety and vibrancy of its arts and culture scene, supported by the council.
EBBSFLEET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION was established in 2015 to speed up the delivery of up to 15,000 homes and create a 21st-century Garden City in Ebbsfleet, North Kent. Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), but works closely with the local authorities, Kent County Council and wider partners to ensure work is locally responsive in every aspect. High-quality, well-designed and sustainable housing forms a major part of our ambitions alongside our commitment to supporting and nurturing employment opportunities for the local workforce. An organisation determined to create a truly brilliant place to both live and work, over 4,000 homes are now complete and homes are being built far quicker than anywhere else in the country, without detriment to quality, design or sustainability.
CREATIVE ESTUARY is the creative development agency for north Kent and south Essex and their ambition is to transform the 60 miles of the Thames Estuary into one of the most exciting cultural hubs in the world. They are working to forge a new future founded on creative energy and innovation along the length of the Thames. Their deeply networked development programme builds leadership, capacity and space for creative production, and accelerates the growing cultural impact of the Thames Estuary region. They understand and use culture as the catalyst for growth, resulting in the provision of much needed space for expanding creative businesses. This delivers the scale of services, skills and infrastructure sought by both UK and international creative producers and organisations. Creative Estuary is supported using public funding by Arts Council England as part of their Place Partnerships Fund.
