Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has welcomed the announcement that Motiv8 South has been awarded £750,000 from Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme.

 The three-year programme, Gosport Routes, will begin in April 2026, with the first year focused on Rowner and Town, before expanding into Forton and Bridgemary.

Led by youth charity Motiv8 South, the project brings together a partnership of local organisations including Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire Cultural Trust, St Vincent College, Incredible Edible Gosport and Community First. Together, they will work with residents to shape the kinds of creative activities they want, building Gosport’s cultural offer from the ground up.

Following the announcement, Caroline said: “This is fantastic news for Gosport. Creativity and culture are such an important part of what makes our community special, they bring people together and help tell the unique story of our town.”

“I worked hard to secure Gosport’s inclusion on the Arts Council’s list of Priority Places, and after bringing the Managing Director of Arts Council England and his team here to see our cultural and heritage sites first-hand, I’m delighted that effort is now paying off through this major new investment.”

The £750,000 investment, made possible by National Lottery Funding, is part of a £43 million national package announced by Arts Council England to support 39 Creative People and Places programmes across the country from 2026 to 2029.

Gosport was identified as one of Arts Council England’s Priority Places recognising the town’s untapped creative potential. Gosport Routes will build on that foundation by supporting local artists, creating opportunities for young people, and encouraging residents to take the lead in shaping their own creative landscape.