SEVEN organisations in Wiltshire will receive a share of over £2.2m a year as part of a cash injection from Arts Council England.
Groups from Salisbury to Swindon to Corsham are included in its new National Portfolio of funded organisations for 2023-26.
Bradford on Avon’s Wiltshire Music Centre, an important local hub for live music, has been awarded £103,546 per annum to help deliver Arts Council England’s “Let’s Create” strategy.
The strategy aims to widen access, inclusion, and involvement for all in the arts and culture.
Wiltshire Creative, which offers audiences a wide range of cultural experiences at Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury International Arts Festival, and Salisbury Playhouse, is also among the benefactors.
Swindon will receive more than £2.2m over the course of the three years as an Arts Council ‘levelling up place’.
The new investment will see increased funding for Prime Theatre, Create Studios, and Tangle - each of which has developed strong track records in developing cultural and creative skills and talent in the town.
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The Arts Council has said its latest round of funding will benefit creative organisations, museums, and libraries in every corner of the southwest, from Bodmin to Bristol, Ilfracombe to Isle of Wight, and Watchet to Weston-super-Mare.
Chiefs insist there is a clear focus on ensuring that investment is concentrated in those places that, historically, have been underserved.
Southwest Area Director for Arts Council England, 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, which 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.”
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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.”
James Slater, chief executive & artistic director of Wiltshire Music Centre, said: “This is a moment of celebration for our supporters, our staff and trustees, our volunteers, performers, practitioners, audiences and our wider community. This award demonstrates the value that is placed on our work, that we are delivering the very highest quality cultural experiences for our community, and that we have the ambition and determination to reach new audiences.”
The award represents 13 per cent of Wiltshire Music Centre’s annual income and will enable the award-winning concert venue to continue to present over 150 live concerts and events a year, as well as its wide-reaching Creative Learning Programme for over 5,000 children throughout the region.
Mr Slater added: “We are delighted to be welcoming our audiences and participants back to a full programme of activity this season and this award really helps us to look forward with confidence as we approach our 25th Anniversary Year.”
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