The successful first-round projects include visitor improvements at the historic Brixham Battery, literary-inspired podcasts and innovative explorations of the English Riviera's geological history.

The new scheme is run by Torbay Council with Torbay Culture. It asked for projects that would help more people explore Torbay’s heritage, celebrate its UNESCO Global Geopark status and make it a better place to live, work and visit.

These small grants empower communities to identify their own traditions, alongside landscapes and much-loved buildings that were created in our shared past.

Dr Kevin Dixon, Torbay Culture board member and local historian

The successful projects

• Agatha Christie Festival Limited – The Agatha Christie Festival Podcasts 
• Artizan Collective CIC – Geopark Artist Residencies
• Brixham Battery Heritage Group – Safe and Enhanced Visitor Access Project
• Brixham Future CIC – Brixham Literature and Poetry Trail
• The Creativity Centre Educational Trust – Walking on Water: The History of Fleet Walk 
• Christian Creative Network – Art exhibition of work inspired by Agatha Christie’s life and works 
• Friends of the Churchyard – Parish History Through the Ages
• Gaia Giving CIC – Gaia's Community Garden 
• Paignton Town and Preston Community Partnership – Connecting with the English Riviera Geopark and Town's Heritage 
• Taleblazers CIC – The Bedrock Project
• Torquay Museum – Artisans of the Torquay Marble Industry 
• Under our Feet – A Different Perspective

Dr Kevin Dixon, Torbay Culture board member and local historian, said: “These small grants empower communities to identify their own traditions, alongside landscapes and much-loved buildings that were created in our shared past.

"While residents are encouraged to come forward with innovative ways to recognise and appreciate places of historical importance, the grants further welcome building on what has gone before, to challenge accepted history, and to create new ways of belonging as we celebrate the culture of the Bay.”

Nick Powe, chair of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, said: "These Heritage Fund grants will open up opportunities for a wide audience to discover the extraordinary heritage of the English Riviera.”

Next round of applications

The scheme will run until late 2025, with the next round of applications opening in early 2024. For more information about how to apply, visit the Torbay local heritage grant scheme website.