Today Arts Council England reveals details of its new national portfolio of funded organisations for 2023-26.
In total, twenty-seven organisations in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight will receive a share of over £7 million (a year), ensuring that more people in more places can find fantastic, fulfilling art and culture on their doorsteps.
- Gosport, Isle of Wight and the New Forest, all Arts Council’s Levelling Up places will benefit from investment, including: Ventnor Exchange, who bring an exciting programme to the Island; the brilliant St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in Lymington; and through our investment into Hampshire Cultural Trust, Gosport Museum and Art Gallery, Aldershot Military Museum, and New Milton’s Forest Art Centre.
- There will be more activities for children and young people too: with Artswork breaking down barriers to creative participation; and SoCo Music Project who strengthen inclusive music practice and education; and OperaUp Close who are reinventing opera for a new generation of audiences.
- Overall, investment goes to a richly mixed variety of organisations: MAST Mayflower Studios, at the heart of Southampton’s cultural quarter; Isle of Wight’s carnival producers, Shademakers and the New Carnival Company; and South Asian dance company Kala The Arts.
Demand for meaningful, impactful cultural events
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.
Levelling Up for Culture
Levelling Up for Culture places in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight including Havant, Portsmouth, Rushmoor and the New Forest will receive £4.8 million over the next three years. By funding new organisations in new places, we are delivering on the vision set out in our strategy, Let’s Create: that everyone, everywhere, deserves to benefit from public investment in culture and creativity.
As well as renewing our support for those excellent, innovative organisations that have done so much to build England’s reputation as one of the most creative countries in the world, we are investing in 276 new organisations in England of all shapes and sizes, that will together help find and nurture the next generation of talent across the country.
Hampshire organisations
Overall, our new portfolio is more diverse and wide-ranging than ever before. From today, well-known organisations in Southampton such as Art Asia, who run its famous Mela Festival and John Hansard Gallery with its ambitious programme of contemporary art, Portsmouth’s Aspex gallery, and Eastleigh’s The Point will all benefit from investment.
We are also pleased to invest in a host of high-quality and ambitious combined arts and theatre organisations in the region including Crying Out Loud, who create opportunities for musicians, dance, and circus artists and curate events for festivals around the country. And Nutkhut will also get an income boost for their spectacular outdoor arts events, that draw on South Asian traditions.
Isle of Wight
Over on the Isle of Wight – Ryde, Ventnor and Newport get a major boost with Quay Arts, the cultural hub central to life on the Island joining; Shademakers receive additional funding to run Department, the flagship transformation of a former department store into a new creative space for Islanders; and Ventnor Exchange, known for the much-loved annual Ventnor Fringe as well as their high street venue.
New Forest
In the New Forest, St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery get backing for their dynamic rural museum and highly regarded art gallery. This is in addition to our Creative People and Places investment in the New Forest, Culture in Common, which we announced earlier this year. It will ensure that everyone living or working in the New Forest has new and accessible opportunities to engage with.
Elsewhere in the historic county – Bordon’s Phoenix Theatre that hosts over 100 events a year and Hampshire Cultural Trust, who manage many venues including in Gosport, Aldershot, and New Milton – will also benefit from the investment we announce today. We have focused on making certain that as many people as possible in England – no matter where they come from or what their circumstances, can get hold of the very best of art and culture on the high streets and in the community spaces of their villages, towns and cities.
Gibby: All of these places will be a part of the changing cultural and creative landscape
Arts Council England, South West, Area Director, Phil Gibby, said,
“I’m delighted to announce twenty-seven organisations in Hampshire that will receive regular funding from the Arts Council England for the next three years.
We’re proud to be backing the brilliant work taking place – from the Levelling Up for Culture Places of Gosport, the Isle of Wight, and the New Forest to well-loved organisations in Southampton and Portsmouth.
“All of these places will be a part of the changing cultural and creative landscape over the next three years – helping to boost civic pride in communities, provide jobs and joyful experiences, and overall making Hampshire a great place to work, live and play.”
Serota: Deeply proud of the support we will be giving
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.”
Donelan: Access to arts and culture is set to be transformed
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said,
“Access to arts and culture is set to be transformed in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight thanks to this government investment.
“For example, the St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in the New Forest has joined the Arts Council England portfolio, while the number of organisations recognised as nationally important and receiving a funding boost on the Isle of Wight has more than doubled.”
News shared by Helena on behalf of Arts Council England. Ed
