Arts Council England (ACE) announced this morning that five organisations on the Isle of Wight are to be awarded NPO – National Portfolio Organisation – status from April 2023 for three years.
A commitment of £2.25m funding, earmarked for the Isle of Wight between 2023-2026, came with the announcement.
As outlined earlier today by Arts Council CEO, Darren Henley, in an exclusive Op Ed for News OnTheWight, the five winning bidders were Ventnor Exchange, Quay Arts, Shademakers, The Island Collection and New Carnival Company.
Whitewood: Funding will allow us to significantly increase and upscale our activities
Ventnor Exchange is the beating heart of creative experiences in the home town of its founders, Jack Whitewood and Mhairi Macaulay. Since then, it has become a popular and innovative cultural hub providing a year-round programme of often unconventional
After hearing the news this morning (Friday), Jack Whitewood, co-founder of Ventnor Exchange and Ventnor Fringe Festival, told News OnTheWight,
“Today we are delighted to announce Ventnor Exchange will be joining Arts Council England’s National Portfolio from April 2023, joining a range of Island organisations in a collective mission to increase the diversity, ambition and access to cultural experiences for everyone on the Isle of Wight.
“This will mean that for the first time we receive an annual investment that will allow us to significantly increase and upscale our activities, reaching communities across the Island.”
Whitewood: What a rollercoaster ride it’s been
Jack went on to add,
“Thirteen years ago when our organisation started, as a group of local teenagers desperate to change the fortunes of our hometown, we could never have imagined it would reach this exciting stage.
“What a rollercoaster ride it’s been! Despite the challenging times we are optimistic about the future and can’t wait to share more about our plans with the community.”
George: A great day for arts and culture on the Island
Shademakers are the inspirational team behind Department, the flagship redevelopment project that is seeing the former Ryde department store transformed into a new creative space for Islanders.
Sharon George told News OnTheWight,
“We are delighted about the news of an increase in our funding to support with the Department project in Ryde and continuing our work in carnival and outdoor arts.
“This is a great day for arts and culture on the Island and we can’t wait for the exciting work we can deliver in the future.
“We are celebrating with coffee and cake!”
Whitmore: A timely boost, enabling us to move confidently forward
Ian Whitmore, Visual arts and Education manager at Quay Arts told News OnTheWight,
“Quay Arts are excited to have been awarded Arts Council England NPO funding, which will enhance our cultural and education offer from April 2023.
“This dedicated funding will allow us to expand our engagement programme, with a special focus on children and young people, and supporting emerging artists.
“This award recognises the close link between Quay Arts aims and objectives with Arts Council England’s Lets Create! strategy to ‘create a place where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences’.
“This is a timely boost, enabling us to move confidently forward to continue creating, collaborating, hosting and signposting quality cultural opportunities for all.”
Ray: Delighted by the news
The New Carnival Company uses use carnival and celebratory arts to engage people and communities, to bring out the very best in them, helping them to achieve their creative potential and celebrating with them through the production of excellent outdoor events.
Director of NCC, Hannah Ray told News OnTheWight,
“New carnival is delighted to secure ongoing funding from the Arts Council which supports our core events; Ryde’s Mardi Gras and Merry and Bright, as well as our complimentary programme of projects and events including Crossing the Bar.
“We have been fortunate to secure additional funding in this round which will be to develop a focused programme for 16-30 year olds. Supported with bespoke industry training, this group will create self directed work to support our annual events with an overall aim to help participants develop creative career pathways through hands-on experience.”
Owen: Promoting role of culture in education, place-making, job creation, wellbeing and biosphere
The Island Collection was set up in 2019 to provide a vehicle for more collaborative working within the arts, culture, and heritage sector on the Isle of Wight.
Janet Owen, Executive Director for The Island Collection, told News OnTheWight,
“Arts Council England recognises the important work of The Island Collection as a cultural development agency by giving it National Portfolio Organisation status and awarding it £525,000 over three years, commencing April 2023.
“With this significant investment we will work with others to promote the role of culture in education, place-making, job creation, wellbeing and biosphere.
“In particular, we will work with the IW Cultural Education Partnership to ensure cultural engagement in our schools and with the IW Creative Network to provide new opportunities for talent development.”
Janet went on to add,
“ACE has identified the Isle of Wight as a priority area for investment, and we are delighted that New Carnival Company, Quay Arts, Shademakers and Ventnor Exchange have also received new funding from the scheme. In total, ACE will contribute over £750,000 per annum to the Island via this funding, equivalent to just over £5 per Island resident.
“Between now and Spring 2023 when the funding begins, The Island Collection will hold conversations about how culture can support future ambitions as we develop a new Isle of Wight Cultural Strategy. This strategy will deliver real change for residents, especially young people who are our Island’s future.”
Jones-Evans: Fantastic news for the Island
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member for Levelling Up and Regeneration said,
“It’s fantastic news for the Island that Arts Council has recognised our cultural regeneration ambitions by awarding NPO status to five arts-based organisations doing great work here.
“The NPO Island allocation announced today represents over £2m investment in cultural regeneration over the next three years supporting our precious Biosphere status. Culture is at the heart of place and community but is also a major part of the Island’s economy.
“Our new cultural strategy, currently in development, will receive a major boost as result of this news.”
Seely: One of the first things I did was ensure Arts Council England treated the Island as a priority area
Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, said,
“This is really good news for the Island, and I am delighted.
“A thriving arts and cultural community is a vital part of the Island’s regeneration aims: it provides jobs, it supports education, it encourages tourism and it creates aspiration.
“When I became MP, one of the first things I did was ensure Arts Council England treated the Island as a priority area and that is now bearing fruit as we get more money for valuable and important projects.
“I want to thank Arts Council England and congratulate the five Island organisations who thoroughly deserve their grant because of their hard work, skill, dedication and creativity.”
Bob said,
“The funding will ensure that more people in more places than ever before will have access to fantastic, fulfilling art and culture in the villages, towns and cities where they live.”
Article edit
4.25pm 4th Nov 2022 – Comment from JJE added
5.10pm 4th Nov 2022 – Comment from BS added
