Arts Council England has awarded £800,000 to UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in England to run an exciting arts and cultural initiative alongside the tournament, thanks to National Lottery funding.
Three specially commissioned projects, each led by artist Emma Smith, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Idle Women, will celebrate the history of women’s football and its players and harness culture to encourage more people, particularly women and girls, to be inspired by the tournament.
There will also be the opportunity for the public to create an original anthem to celebrate UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in England, expressing the passion evident in the women’s football community through music.
Running throughout the tournament from 6-31 July, in collaboration with the nine host cities around the country – Brighton & Hove, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Rotherham, Sheffield, Southampton, Trafford and Wigan & Leigh – the programme will reach nearly three million people and invite sports audiences and participants to engage with culture at an important moment for the country.
The arts programme will be managed by the English Football Association. It will be the first time the organisation has run such a programme alongside a major tournament and it hopes to establish female role models for both girls and boys through the arts.
Darren Henley, Arts Council chief executive:
The Football Association’s first ever arts programme will transform the streets and boroughs where people live throughout the Women’s EURO 2022 this summer. The combined forces of culture and sport have the power to improve lives, regenerate neighbourhoods, support local economies and bring people together nationally and internationally.
I am proud Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants has been able to support the delivery of three vibrant, celebratory cultural projects for the Women’s EURO 2022. Reaching out to local communities both in the nine host cities and across the nation, they will have a deep and lasting effect for girls, women and young people, which in turn uplifts us all.
Chris Bryant, tournament director, UEFA Women’s EURO 2022:
UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 is set to be the biggest women’s European sporting event in history. This significant funding from the National Lottery and the chance to work with Arts Council England provides us with the opportunity to deliver a programme that celebrates culture and encourages more people, particularly women and girls, to be inspired by the tournament.
We are delighted to be working with such prestigious artists and organisations on bringing this programme to life. As we work towards tournament kick-off on 6 July we will be reaching out to local artists, musicians and community groups via our host city partnerships to share in the moment and deliver a programme of events in each region.
Source: UEFA