WITH Warrington included in list of 100 areas with low cultural participation which will be prioritised for new arts funding, local organisations are being urged to bid for Government funding to ‘Level Up’ Culture.
Warrington South MP Andy Carter is encouraging cultural organisations across Warrington South to bid for funding from the £75 million boost in culture funding for English regions from the department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport.
The boost in financial support will make sure places that have been culturally under-served in years gone by get a better distribution of arts funding and help level up people’s opportunities to enjoy and experience arts and culture.
As part of the plans, Arts Council England (ACE) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have identified 109 ‘Levelling Up for Culture Places’ including Warrington, which will be targeted for additional investment.
Organisations old and new in areas that historically have had low investment in arts and culture will be encouraged to bid for funds, meaning places such as Wolverhampton, Hartlepool, Rotherham, Peterborough as well as Warrington could be given the extra support they need to build on their rich cultural heritage.
Arts Council England will also detail plans to support London-based applicants which wish to move, expand, or establish new activity outside London, helping to deliver a truly national cultural offering.
The Government is delivering on its commitment set out in its Levelling Up White Paper to raise cultural spending significantly outside the capital, boosting opportunity for all.
Mr Carter said: “For far too long cultural investment has been unfairly distributed, despite the wealth of talent spread across the country.
“Lots of different groups have been in touch with me, including groups keen to see a new performance space in Lymm, a theatre for the town and groups in Penketh wanting to improve arts facilities in the village. The Government’s funding boost for cultural organisations in areas of historically low cultural engagement is a vital step forward in redressing these structural imbalances, and I urge cultural organisations across Warrington South to bid for funds.”
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “I have said from day one in this role my priority is to increase access to arts and culture across the whole country.
“Today marks a big step in achieving this aim as we shift new cultural investment into places previously at the back of the queue.
“Culture enriches people’s lives. It entertains us, brings us together and can be a catalyst for regeneration. Everyone should have access to it no matter where they live or what their background.”
Applications for funding will shortly be available via The Arts Council.
