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Arts Council England announces funding decisions

Fewer arts groups in the region are set to receive financial support as the Arts Council England introduces a new funding system.

Yesterday Arts Council England unveiled its new National portfolio of funded organisations, which will see theatres, galleries and other arts organisations in the North East receiving £48m worth of funding over three years from April 2012.

This follows the Arts Council’s decision in 2010 to introduce a new funding system and a 10-year strategic framework for the arts in England, in the wake of significant cuts in the budget from the government.

Out of 85 organisations that applied for National portfolio funding, 42 National portfolio organisations in the region will replace the existing 69 supported through the regularly funded organisations (RFO) programme.

However, 10 new organisations will be part of the new National portfolio.

Arts Council’s regional director,Alison Clark-Jenkins said: “This has been a difficult process, we’ve made some tough choices and there will be significant changes from April 2012.

“This, combined with other sources of Lottery funding, including Grants for the arts, will ensure continued innovation and creativity.

“Arts organisations will need to shape their operation to fit the economic reality we find ourselves in, but our cultural sector in the North East has always punched above its weight and I want to make sure that the Arts Council works with the widest range of creative organisations and people to make sure this continues.”

The Arts Council said that the new portfolio has been shaped by the goals of the new strategic framework – Achieving great art for everyone – and by the challenging economic backdrop of a 29.6% grant in aid (GIA) cut to the Council’s 2011-2015 budget from government.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .