Groundbreaking Matson community project showcased in prestigious visit
Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England and formerly director of the Tate and chair of the Turner Prize jury has highlighted the work of a little-known Gloucestershire arts project.
A pioneering Gloucestershire citizen-led arts project welcomed leading arts figure, Sir Nicholas Serota CH, for a VIP visit this week.
Hosted by arts and cultural organisation Create Gloucestershire, the Chair of Arts Council England Sir Nicholas saw first-hand how the Matson-led arts project benefits the community when he met them at Matson Library.
For Sir Nicholas - formerly director of the Tate and chair of the Turner Prize jury - it was his third visit to Culture Matson; testament to how Culture Matson is leading in ways which could inspire citizen-led creative projects nationally.
Founded and supported by Create Gloucestershire, Culture Matson has been established in Matson for almost a decade and the project will be celebrating its 10th anniversary next year.
Create Gloucestershire worked with local people to establish Culture Matson in 2017 with the aim of bringing together local citizens and organisations who want to create a more joyful, creative community.
Culture Matson Creative Catalst Debbie Christie said: “It was fantastic to welcome Sir Nicholas back to Matson and share our success stories with him, as well as considering how we’ll all meet future challenges in the creative sector.
“He’s been so supportive of Create Gloucestershire and Culture Matson and we’re sure that’s in part because we’ve shown how sustained, long-term commitment can make sustainable change happen.”
Over the years participants have included Hillside Primary School, community cultural organisation GL4, the Redwell Centre, Matson Library, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, Glos City Homes, Matson Robinswood White City Partnership, Strike a Light and Read With Me, as well as individuals from the local community.
Create Gloucestershire also helps Culture Matson to manage its own funding through a ‘creative piggy bank’ enabling the community to spend it on the arts and cultural activities which matter to them most.
Culture Matson’s funding pot is called its ‘Sheepy Bank’, after Matson’s free-roaming sheep which graze on residential greens near Matson Avenue and Redwell Road.
Sir Nicholas was presented with his own ceramic ‘sheepy bank’, created by Jonathan Walker and the group working together. Projects supported through the Sheepy Bank include:
Community celebration Matson Lantern Parade, which brought together local artists, families and schools who lit up the estate with their handmade lanterns.
GAS Projects’ weekly after school creative club Art Busters.
Mindful Clay ceramics workshops and The Ewe Space and The Children’s Centre.
GL4 workshops at Finlay School.
Tracey Thomas, associate co-director at Create Gloucestershire said: “We’d like to think Sir Nicholas for his continued interest and support. It was lovely to welcome him again and to be reminded of his unwavering support for citizen-led creativity.
“Culture Matson is a working example of this, and we hope our experience inspires others as next year we celebrate ten years of convening Culture Matson and working in Matson.
“These are exciting times for Culture Matson, especially as Matson and Robinswood have been awarded funding through the Government’s Pride in Place programme.
“The support from Create Gloucestershire over the last decade has helped grow creative and financial power across the community and we’re excited to build on this in the future.”
This press release was sent to The Raikes Journal by Victoria Temple on 2 June 2026.
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