Amazon’s Regional Creatives Fund is a new nationwide initiative designed to widen access to careers in the creative industries for people from underserved communities.
Two West Yorkshire charities have been awarded £25,000 to grow programmes that help local people access careers in the creative industries. MAP Charity (Music and Arts Production Leeds) has been awarded £15,000, while Lawrence Batley Theatre will receive £10,000 from Amazon’s Regional Creatives Fund.
The fund, which supports the Government’s Creative Places Growth Fund, is designed to open up pathways into creative careers for people from underserved communities – defined by Creative Access, the UK’s leading inclusivity organisation in the sector, as groups proven to be under-represented in the industry.
Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield delivers a year-round programme ranging from drama and contemporary dance to circus and pantomime. As the creative heart of the town, it nurtures talent and builds community across Kirklees through initiatives such as its Future Creative programme.
Future Creative provides inclusive volunteering opportunities across the arts and cultural sector, supporting young people affected by poverty and unemployment. With one in three households in Kirklees experiencing poverty and local unemployment rates above the national average, the programme tackles some of the area’s most pressing socio-economic challenges.
The Regional Creatives Fund grant will enable the charity to engage 50 young people aged 18–30 in volunteering opportunities across West Yorkshire over the next two years, funding a dedicated Volunteer Manager with lived experience to offer tailored, one-to-one support. The programme will deliver a series of creative and employability workshops, covering CV writing, interview skills, first aid, technical theatre and creative practice masterclasses. Funding will also support the rollout of Volunteero, an app-based volunteer management system that will be used to promote opportunities, track participants’ progress and host digital training.
A dedicated ‘no-worries fund’ will remove travel as a key barrier by covering transport costs, while investment in uniforms will help foster a sense of identity and belonging. The theatre will work with creative organisations across West Yorkshire to offer cross-sector placements in theatre, music, digital media and visual arts, and will host celebration events to mark volunteers’ achievements.
Music and Arts Production Charity works with young people aged 11–16 who are struggling to engage with mainstream education. It provides vital, empowering music and arts qualifications alongside maths and English support, offering learners a safe, inspiring environment where their creativity can thrive.
MAP Charity hosts a vibrant community of local creative partners in its workspaces – from designers and musicians to jewellers and theatre companies, providing them with space and support. In return, these partners offer learners enriched learning, hands-on work experience and professional development opportunities.
The charity also stages cultural fundraising events from Hope House Gallery, programming exhibitions, workshops, performances and talks from across the creative sector. The gallery is home to Cosmic Slop, a renowned live music night that brings internationally acclaimed artists and local DJs together on a custom-built, one-of-a-kind sound system. All of this activity takes place at MAP Charity’s Grade II listed home, Hope Foundry in Leeds, where the organisation is helping to nurture the next generation of creative professionals.
MAP Education supports young people to build the skills and confidence they need to re-engage with learning and achieve BTEC qualifications. Working alongside creative professionals, the programme offers opportunities to develop key skills and attributes, build positive relationships, experience success, and see how their education connects to real careers in the creative industries.
Support from the Regional Creatives Fund will enable Music and Arts Production Charity to reach more young people, helping them get back on track in education and explore future pathways in the creative sector.
Becky Dash, Chief Executive of Lawrence Batley Theatre said:
“I am grateful to the Regional Creatives Fund for their investment in our Future Creatives programme. Building on its incredible success over the last three years, we’re pleased that it’s coming back bigger and better and we’re now able to offer this incredible development opportunity to even more young people in our area.
“When I was a young adult living in Huddersfield, I had to relocate to London to get this sort of opportunity. Now we can offer a taster of what it’s like to be part of the creative industries right here in Kirklees. Opportunities like this are what makes our area an amazing place to live and work.”
Zena Zenonos-Walker is the Head of Education at MAP Charity said:
“During my time working at MAP Charity, I have seen the positive impact MAP’s creative curriculum and meaningful relationships have had on the lives of children and young people, both those who are accessing the support MAP offers now and those who continue to visit us having attended MAP in the past.
“The funding we have received from the Amazon Regional Creatives Fund will allow us to work with more young people, driving forward our mission to create opportunities and experiences for development and growth, ensuring each and every child at MAP reaches their full potential.”
Paul Firth, Director, Global Music Industry, Amazon Music and Regional Creatives Fund judge said:
“MAP Charity and Lawrence Batley Theatre do incredible work in the community, and we were blown away by their commitment to upskilling people in underserved communities for careers in creative industries.”
“Amazon is passionate about creating opportunities for people in West Yorkshire and across the UK to have access to creative industry careers and we’re excited to support the charities as they expand their programmes to have an even greater impact on the local community.”
Joedi Langley, Head of Creative Wales said:
“It was a pleasure to be a part of this important judging panel for the Regional Creatives Fund, that will allocate much needed funding across the UK, creating new opportunities for underrepresented groups to develop their creative skills.”
Grants were allocated by an independent judging panel made up of senior leaders from Amazon, The National Theatre, Creative Wales, Arts Council England, the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Help Musicians and Music Minds Matter. Applications were assessed against five key criteria. Successful bids captured the spirit of the fund with energy, optimism and a strong creative vision; demonstrated clear impact through skills development, access and industry connections; presented a smart, realistic delivery plan; put inclusion at their core by elevating underrepresented voices; and built on proven programmes with the potential to grow and scale.
Amazon’s investment comes at a time when the UK’s creative industries continue to grow faster than many other sectors, yet remain difficult to break into for those without connections, resources, or relevant training. The Regional Creatives Fund seeks to bridge that gap by supporting grassroots organisations that understand their communities best.
By championing local talent and breaking down financial and structural barriers, the fund is helping nurture the next generation of creative professionals — ensuring that the UK’s cultural landscape becomes more diverse, inclusive, and representative of the communities it serves.
