Plymouth’s role as a cultural and arts hotspot has been endorsed with renewed Arts Council England investment of more than £12m into the city’s cultural organisations.
Arts Council England (ACE) today announced their three year funding deal for National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) around the country. NPO status is awarded to organisations that create excellent cultural work and open up the arts to new audiences in exciting and engaging ways. There are eight in Plymouth, which will get £4,113,239 a year over the next three years, a total of £12,339,717.
The announcement comes at a challenging time for cultural organisations in the city and nationally. Rising costs and utility increases are adding to the financial burden of Covid, which is still having an impact on Plymouth venues’ audiences and earned income. NPO status gives organisations an ongoing contribution from ACE towards running costs and the development of new projects, but all remain reliant on additional commercial and fundraised income.
ACE confirmed today that the following organisations have NPO status for the next three years:
- Barbican Theatre Plymouth, a regional centre of excellence for young and emerging theatre and dance artists
- Beyond Face, who provide opportunities for artists of the Global Majority to live, work and thrive in the South West theatre sector
- KARST, an independent contemporary arts gallery and studio complex in Millbay
- Literature Works, the regional literature development agency for South West England
- Plymouth Culture, the strategic development organisation that supports and enables the growth of culture across the city
- Real Ideas Organisation, which helps organisations to grow and communities to thrive, as well as bringing new life into old buildings such as Ocean Studios and Market Hall
- The Box, Plymouth’s flagship new gallery, museum and archive
- Theatre Royal Plymouth, the South West’s leading producing house.
Some organisations are receiving less funding than before, or have lost NPO status.
Council leader Richard Bingley said: “We are so grateful for ACE’s ongoing investment in the city’s culture. This is amazing news for the funded organisations, our city and our residents.
“We are all proud of the role the arts has had in the redevelopment of Plymouth. The Box, for instance, recently had its second birthday and has welcomed over 350,000 visitors since it first opened. It’s had huge benefits for the city, with visitors spending money in hotels and cafes as well as being a place that local people can enjoy.
“Or there’s the Real Ideas Organisation’s work in Devonport. Not only are they bringing old buildings back to life, through the immersive dome, they are creating high quality jobs and extraordinary opportunities for the next generation.
“We have a great relationship with Arts Council England and I would particularly like to thank their South West director Phil Gibby for his enthusiasm and support for what we are trying to achieve here in Plymouth."
Leader of the opposition Councillor Tudor Evans OBE said: “This funding will allow some very talented people to continue to create spectacles, events and happenings right across the city.
“They will bring even more life and excitement to Plymouth, making it a fantastic and inspiring place to live. I can’t thank ACE enough for believing in Plymouth and for helping these organisations to continue in challenging times.
“This funding is a reward for investing in this sector, showing that across all parties, we believe that investing in arts and culture helps address issues that affect the city – the need for economic growth, raising aspirations and improving community cohesion. This news is simply ace!”
Hannah Harris, CEO Plymouth Culture added: “It is fantastic news that Plymouth’s cultural sector has retained the significant level of Arts Council investment achieved in the previous funding round.
“This is a mark of the outstanding cultural leadership within the city’s cultural organisations and the ongoing support for culture from the local authority. This secures an exciting programme of cultural activity for the city over the next three years.
“We are disappointed that some organisations have had a reduction in funding, but will seek to work alongside them and to support them through this transition. We thank them for their hard work in supporting communities through culture and hope to see it continue.”