£100k boost for Burton’s cultural calendar

East Staffordshire’s cultural calendar has been given a near-£100,000 boost, with new funding set to support events and activities across the borough over the next two years.

East Staffordshire Borough Council has secured £99,570 from Arts Council England, which will go towards cultural events during 2026 and 2027.

The aim is to bring communities together, encourage more visitors and continue building the borough’s cultural offering – giving Burton and the surrounding area a few more reasons to get out of the house.

Canvas of Light set to return

Among the events benefiting from the funding will be the return of Canvas of Light, following its debut last year.

More than 10,000 people visited Burton town centre to experience the event, and its return will form part of the new programme.

The Arts Council funding will also help the council put its recently approved Culture, the Heartbeat of our Communities: Cultural and Events Strategy into action.

It follows a particularly busy spell for Burton’s cultural scene. The borough recently hosted its first Burton Cultural Celebration, organised with local community groups to showcase the creativity and diversity of the people who call the town home.

Cllr Paul Walker, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Cultural Development, said:

“I’m delighted that we have secured this significant funding from Arts Council England. It gives us an important opportunity to build on the momentum we have already created and continue developing a strong and ambitious cultural programme for East Staffordshire.

 

“We have seen through events such as Sonic Boom Festival and Canvas of Light the impact culture can have – attracting thousands of people into our town centres, supporting local businesses and creating opportunities for communities to come together. This investment will help us continue that work and bring even more cultural activity to residents and visitors over the next two years.”

Next up: Sonic Boom

Residents won’t have to wait until 2027 to see more activity.

The cultural programme continues next month with the Sonic Boom Festival, returning to Burton upon Trent town centre for its third year on Saturday 12 September.

Delivered in partnership with Sonic Boom Music CIC, the festival will feature a free main stage and Aftershock programme.

Sonic Boom also recently received some national recognition, featuring in the Government’s Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music announcement.

Further details of what else is heading our way as part of the 2026 and 2027 cultural programme will be announced in due course.

With almost £100,000 of Arts Council backing now secured, Burton’s cultural calendar looks set to stay busy – and, pleasingly, considerably more colourful.