Northamptonshire Community Foundation Community Hero of the Week

Northampton Film Festival supports creativity and cultural engagement across the county, providing opportunities for local people to get involved in the arts and develop new skills. Through its several programmes, the festival champions emerging talent and helps young people explore creative careers.

With the support of recent funding, the festival delivered its Young Curator Scheme, a five-month training programme for aspiring arts curators, programmers and event organisers. The scheme brought together young people aged 11–25, including dedicated provision for those with special educational needs and disabilities, guiding them through the process of planning and delivering public arts events.

A £4,000 grant from the Leslie Church Memorial Fund, awarded via Northamptonshire Community Foundation, enabled participants to take part in workshops, hear from industry experts and gain hands-on experience of event delivery. Young people developed skills in marketing, audience engagement and event management, while also building confidence, communication and teamwork skills.

The programme culminated in participants curating and delivering events as part of Northampton Film Festival, including activities linked to National Careers Week. Many reported increased confidence, new aspirations and a stronger understanding of creative career pathways, while also building networks with like-minded peers.

The scheme has also had a wider community impact, helping the festival reach more young and diverse audiences and creating events shaped by youth voice and lived experience. By empowering young people to lead and create, the project has strengthened Northamptonshire’s cultural offer and inspired the next generation of creatives.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation is the county’s largest independent grant maker, having given more than £24 million in grants since its inception in 2001. This year marks an exciting milestone for NCF – 25 years of inspiring local giving for local needs. Building on this, NCF is also looking 25 years ahead, with bold ambition for a fairer, thriving and more connected county for generations to come. Their latest Impact Report is ready to read here.