By Aimee Gomez

As the IGNITE programme draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate an incredible year of creative development, collaboration and growth for nine talented artists from across Central Bedfordshire.

Led by Tangled Feet Theatre Ensemble and supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Central Bedfordshire Council and the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation, IGNITE set out to support emerging artists to grow sustainable creative practices — and the results have been nothing short of inspiring.

Over the past twelve months our participants Aaron Spendelow, Vikki Neill, Charlotte Read, Carmen Carreira, Emily Davis, Jasmine Staunton, Clara Westmorland, Kelly Horne and Stephanie Kitchiner have each carved out their own distinct creative paths. Through workshops, mentoring and peer collaboration, they've developed new ideas, refined their skills and strengthened their sense of purpose as Artists. 

Throughout the programme, we’ve seen:

• New workshops and creative outputs designed and delivered by participants, bringing fresh creative experiences to their communities.
• Partnerships and collaborations formed with local schools, venues and cultural organisations, expanding artistic networks and confidence.
• Multiple funding applications successfully submitted, with artists now equipped to access funding and advocate for their work.
• The early formation of a new Community Interest Company (CIC) — a direct legacy of IGNITE’s focus on sustainability, collaboration and entrepreneurship.
• A deepened sense of creative identity, business confidence and wellbeing — empowering each artist to grow both their practice and themselves.

IGNITE has been about much more than professional development. It’s been a year of connection, creativity and courage — where artists have learned to value their work, support one another and see themselves as part of a vibrant local arts community.

To ensure this legacy continues, we’ve created the IGNITE Resource Toolkit — a free digital resource filled with templates, guides and practical tools for artists to use in their future creative journeys.

As we close this chapter, we want to say a heartfelt congratulations to our nine participants. You have embodied what IGNITE was all about: creativity, collaboration and resilience. We can’t wait to see where your work takes you next.

And although the programme itself has ended, this is not goodbye. Tangled Feet will continue to champion and support our IGNITE artists — offering mentorship, advice and collaboration opportunities long into the future.

Here’s to a year of sparks — and to a bright creative future for Central Bedfordshire’s artists.