A £1,000 grant is up for grabs for creative people in Southampton.

The cash for "people with ideas" will be handed out by Nuffield Southampton Theatres to help local people put on events.

And in a bid to help shape the "future of culture" in Southampton two new programmes - the NST Writers and Self-Starters - are aimed at giving up-and-coming writers the chance to develop their skills for writing or performance.

Working the award-winning South West theatre company Up In Arms, NST Writers will deliver a programme of mentoring, masterclasses and script in hand readings from some of the best new playwrights to help local writers grow their ideas and find their voice

The programme will culminate in a public showcase, with the aim of finding at least one writer for NST to take forward and commission.

Barney Norris, Co-Artistic Director at Up in Arms, said: “We know from our own experience of finding a voice in the theatre how many of the south west’s stories don’t get told. Setting up this programme in collaboration with NST feels like a great way of drawing out more of the life of this region, which gives up its secrets all too guardedly.”

NST is also looking for people with ideas for new arts events in Southampton to join its Self-Starters programme, providing free training, support and guidance to get their ideas off the ground.

People from all backgrounds and levels of experience are invited to apply to take part in the programme, which will equip them with the skills to plan their own arts events, support other artists in the city and help bring their ideas to fruition.

NST is interested in hearing from people in Southampton about ideas to take place in spaces across the city, such as hosting a musician in someone’s living room or supporting a play reading at a local library - but not for companies pitching their own shows for NST spaces.

Depending on the idea, NST will also provide cash of up to £1,000 to help overcome some of the financial barriers of putting on events.

Hannah Bevan, NST Studio Producer, said: “I’m really thrilled that we’ll be partnering with Up in Arms to run the writers group in the region. Their experience and skill will be invaluable and I can’t wait to see who get coming forward to join it. It feels this is the right time as we now

“Self-Starters is something I’m very passionate about and feel it’s important to find people who want to kick-start their own projects. There are already loads of people working across the city to make it a vibrant place for culture so it’s fantastic we are enabling more people to realise their projects.”