Arts Council England has revealed details of its new National Portfolio of funded organisations for 2023-26.
In total, seven organisations in Wiltshire will receive a share of over £2.2 million a year, ensuring that more people in more places can find fulfilling art and culture on their doorsteps.
Swindon, an Arts Council Levelling Up place, will receive over £2.2 million over the three years in new investment, with increased funding for Prime Theatre, Create Studios, and Tangle, each of which have developed strong track records in developing cultural and creative skills and talent in the town.
Tangle champions African Caribbean arts and creative practitioners through touring performances across the country.
Prime Theatre will broaden its remit, expanding from its current theatre focus to become a producer working across a wider range of artforms.
The investment in Create Studios will support a broad digital media programme for emerging and established talent, based at its new town centre premises.
Elsewhere in Wiltshire, there is renewed investment for organisations from Bradford-on-Avon to Corsham to Salisbury, with three-year funding for Wiltshire Music Centre, the Pound Arts Centre and Wiltshire Creative.
Arts Council England have heard again and again that people want and need easy access to meaningful, impactful cultural events and creative activities in the places where they live.
This latest round of funding will benefit arts organisations, museums, and libraries in every corner of the south west, from Bodmin to Bristol, Ilfracombe to Isle of Wight, and Watchet to Weston-super-Mare. There is a clear focus on ensuring that investment is concentrated in those places that, historically, have been underserved.
Overall, our new portfolio is more diverse and wide-ranging than ever before. From today, brilliant organisations will get a funding boost, strengthening the cultural reputation of the region.
Arts Council England, South West, Area Director, Phil Gibby, said: “I’m thrilled to announce Arts Council’s commitment to seven organisations across Wiltshire, who will receive regular funding from the Arts Council England over the next three years.
'Residents and visitors to the county will benefit from our investment in museums, music venues and art centres, who will continue offering inspiring cultural experiences from Salisbury to Corsham.
"Adding to its growing reputation as a talent development hotspot, Swindon – one of our Levelling Up for Culture Places - will get a boost with additional funding going to Create Studios and Prime Theatre, two organisations which put emerging talent at the heart of what they do.
"These investments recognise the importance of celebrating talent in the area and bringing art and culture to its communities – so that there are more opportunities to take part in creativity, and be inspired no matter where we live."
Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country.
"We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.”
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “Additional funding into the South West’s cultural institutions will help improve access to the arts for people where they live.
"We have been clear that the arts are for everyone and this investment will help even more people get access to the region’s brilliant cultural offer.”
Swindon, an Arts Council Levelling Up place, will receive over £2.2 million over the three years in new investment, with increased funding for Prime Theatre, Create Studios, and Tangle, each of which have developed strong track records in developing cultural and creative skills and talent in the town.
Tangle champions African Caribbean arts and creative practitioners through touring performances across the country.
Prime Theatre will broaden its remit, expanding from its current theatre focus to become a producer working across a wider range of artforms.
The investment in Create Studios will support a broad digital media programme for emerging and established talent, based at its new town centre premises.
Elsewhere in Wiltshire, there is renewed investment for organisations from Bradford-on-Avon to Corsham to Salisbury, with three-year funding for Wiltshire Music Centre, the Pound Arts Centre and Wiltshire Creative.
Arts Council England have heard again and again that people want and need easy access to meaningful, impactful cultural events and creative activities in the places where they live.
This latest round of funding will benefit arts organisations, museums, and libraries in every corner of the south west, from Bodmin to Bristol, Ilfracombe to Isle of Wight, and Watchet to Weston-super-Mare. There is a clear focus on ensuring that investment is concentrated in those places that, historically, have been underserved.
Overall, our new portfolio is more diverse and wide-ranging than ever before. From today, brilliant organisations will get a funding boost, strengthening the cultural reputation of the region.
Arts Council England, South West, Area Director, Phil Gibby, said: “I’m thrilled to announce Arts Council’s commitment to seven organisations across Wiltshire, who will receive regular funding from the Arts Council England over the next three years.
'Residents and visitors to the county will benefit from our investment in museums, music venues and art centres, who will continue offering inspiring cultural experiences from Salisbury to Corsham.
"Adding to its growing reputation as a talent development hotspot, Swindon – one of our Levelling Up for Culture Places - will get a boost with additional funding going to Create Studios and Prime Theatre, two organisations which put emerging talent at the heart of what they do.
"These investments recognise the importance of celebrating talent in the area and bringing art and culture to its communities – so that there are more opportunities to take part in creativity, and be inspired no matter where we live."
Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country.
"We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.”
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “Additional funding into the South West’s cultural institutions will help improve access to the arts for people where they live.
"We have been clear that the arts are for everyone and this investment will help even more people get access to the region’s brilliant cultural offer.”
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