More than 50 mueums and cultural institutions across the North East have received a significant funding boost from the government-funded Arts Council England. 

The registered charity announced a new national portfolio of funding for museums, libraries and other art organisations for 2023 to 2026, which includes new investment to 276 institutions that previously weren’t part of the programme.

It means a total of 990 institutions will share £446 million each year, up from 714 organisations previously.

Chief Executive Darren Henley has detailed the decisions that affect County Durham, Darlington and Teesside, and the difference these organisations can play in people’s everyday lives.

He said: "At the Arts Council, our job is to invest in arts organisations, museums and libraries to make sure that everyone can feel the joy, inspiration and many other benefits creative and cultural activities can bring into their lives.

So, I am delighted that so many organisations within the Northern Echo’s circulation area will get new, increased or continuing Arts Council support, particularly in County Durham, Teesside and Tyne and Wear where we have set out to boost our investment significantly.

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I believe that we are all creative and that our support will generate more chances and choices for everyone’s creativity to flourish. Allowing more of us to experience the very best and most ambitious creativity and culture, often free of charge, wherever we live, whatever our background, whatever our passion.

The Northern Echo:

This investment will make a real difference in communities across the North. In Durham, Tin Arts in Pity Me and The Forge in Stanley are being offered increased funding. Beamish and Bowes museums, as well as National Youth Choirs of Great Britain in Durham City, will continue to receive regular funding. We are also supporting Durham County Council to run more events across the county for everyone to enjoy.

Two organisations in County Durham will receive new investment - Redhills CIO, the charity set up to preserve the historic Durham Miners Hall and promote the culture and heritage of the Durham coalfield. While Northern Heartlands in Bishop Auckland successfully combines working with people in the deeply rural areas of Teesdale and Weardale as well as with the towns and villages of the former Durham coalfield.

The Northern Echo:

One of our priorities is making sure that more children and young people in more places can take part in creative activities from a young age. That is why we are supporting Theatre Hullabaloo in Darlington in its aim become a National Centre of Theatre for Young Audiences.

We will also be helping Newcastle-based Ballet Lorent to develop its work at Darlington Hippodrome.

There is more great news on Teesside where three organisations - the popular Festival of Thrift in Redcar, Tees Valley Arts and The Auxiliary Project Space in Middlesbrough will get regular funding over the next three years. We will also continue our support of Middlesbrough Town Hall and Teesside University for the MIMA art gallery.

We are keen to support organisations that nurture talent and develop new career opportunities. Stockton Arc’s fantastic Artists of Change programme, which employs artists on a year-long contract, is doing exactly that and we are giving it more money to increase this vital work.

As part of this week’s announcement, we will invest £73,173,270 in the North East. This is an increase of 14%.

Our creative industries are worth £100 billion to the UK economy. Two million people are employed in the creative industries across the UK. Many of these are people working in libraries, theatres, museums, and cultural venues in our villages, towns, and cities across the country.

In these difficult and challenging times, it is more important than ever that our arts, museums and libraries offer comfort, joy and a wealth of everyday wonders to people across the country. This is what our new portfolio will do."

Full list of North East institutions receiving new funding 

Association for Cultural Enterprises, County Durham

Beamish Museum, County Durham

Durham County Council, County Durham

National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, County Durham

Northern Heartlands, County Durham

Redhills CIO, County Durham

The Bowes Museum, County Durham

The Forge, County Durham

TIN Arts, County Durham

Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington

Baltic Flour Mills Visual Arts Trust, Gateshead

Gem Arts, Gateshead

North Music Trust, Gateshead

The Lawnmowers Independent Theatre Company, Gateshead

Vane Contemporary Art Limited, Gateshead

Rural Arts North Yorkshire, Hambleton

Middlesbrough Town Hall, Middlesbrough

Teesside University, Middlesbrough

The Auxiliary Project Space, Middlesbrough

a-n The Artists Information Company, Newcastle upon Tyne

Ballet Lorent Limited, Newcastle upon Tyne

Company of Others, Newcastle upon Tyne

Dance City, Newcastle upon Tyne

Generator North East, Newcastle upon Tyne

Inpress Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne

New Writing North, Newcastle upon Tyne

North East Theatre Trust Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne

Northern Print, Newcastle upon Tyne

Northern Stage (Theatrical Productions) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne

Open Clasp Theatre CompanyNewcastle upon Tyne

Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children's Books, Newcastle upon Tyne

The NewBridge Project, Newcastle upon Tyne

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, Newcastle upon Tyne

Unfolding Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne

Helix Arts Ltd, North Tyneside

Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival, Northumberland

Bloodaxe Books Ltd, Northumberland

Headway Arts, Northumberland

Mortal Fools, Northumberland

November Club, Northumberland

Queen's Hall Arts, Northumberland

The Maltings Berwick Trust Limited, Northumberland

Woodhorn Charitable Trust, Northumberland

Festival of Thrift, Redcar and Cleveland

Tees Valley Arts, Redcar and Cleveland

Jarrow Hall, South Tyneside

South Tyneside Council, South Tyneside

The Customs House, South Tyneside

Family Arts Campaign Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees

Future Arts Centres, Stockton-on-Tees

Stockton Arts Centre Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees

Stockton Borough Council Tees Valley Museum Group, Stockton-on-Tees

Stockton International Riverside Festival, Stockton-on-Tees

Southpaw Dance Productions, Sunderland

Sunderland Culture, Sunderland

Surface Area Dance Theatre CIC, Sunderland

 

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