UEFA Women's EURO 2022 Cultural Programme awarded £800,000 National Lottery funding

Arts Council England has awarded £800,000 to UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in England to run an arts and cultural programme alongside the tournament, thanks to National Lottery players. Three specially commissioned projects, each led by artist Emma Smith, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Idle Women, will celebrate the history of women’s football and its players and harness culture to encourage more people, particularly women and girls, to be inspired by the tournament.

There will also be the opportunity for the public to create an original anthem to celebrate UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in England, expressing the passion evident in the women's football community through music.

Running throughout the tournament from 6-31 July, in collaboration with the nine Host Cities around the country – Brighton & Hove, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Rotherham, Sheffield, Southampton, Trafford and Wigan & Leigh - the programme will reach nearly 3 million people and invite sports audiences and participants to engage with culture at an important moment for the country.

The arts programme will be managed by The Football Association, the national governing body of football in England. It will be the first time the organisation has run such a programme alongside a major tournament and it hopes to establish female role models for both girls and boys through the arts.

Darren Henley, Arts Council Chief Executive said: "The Football Association's first ever arts programme will transform the streets and boroughs where people live throughout the Women’s EURO 2022 this summer. The combined forces of culture and sport have the power to improve lives, regenerate neighbourhoods, support local economies and bring people together nationally and internationally."