A million reasons to celebrate culture
A grant of £1.25million has been awarded to boost arts, culture and heritage in Sunderland.
The funding from The Great Place Scheme is an early success for Sunderland Culture, a newly-established company set up to run major city attractions and venues.
The city will be one of 16 pilot areas for the Great Place Scheme, jointly funded over three years by Arts Council England (Ace) and Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), to put arts, culture and heritage at the heart of communities.
Sunderland Culture’s chief executive Keith Merrin said: “To have such significant success in attracting new investment to Sunderland just weeks after being formed is hugely satisfying and encouraging.
“It says a great deal about the faith and trust that the scheme’s partners already have in us that they’ve chosen us to help pilot a major new national project.”
“It demonstrates vision and investment is paying off ” COUN PAUL WATSON
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Coun Paul Watson, added: “I am delighted that Sunderland has been awarded this funding.
“It demonstrates that the vision and investment of the city council with our partners, University of Sunderland and the MAC Trust ,in setting up Sunderland Culture is paying off in bringing new investment to the city and new opportunities for our communities .”
As well as managing and operating venues in the city, Sunderland Culture will deliver large-scale projects like the bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021, The Great Place Scheme, and raise the profile of the city’s arts provision.
The funding announcement comes only weeks after Ace revealed it was investing £6million toward the building of a new £8.2million auditorium next to the MAC’S £3.6million redevelopment of the fire station.
The city was awarded one of only 10 Heritage Action Zones by Historic England to bring Old Sunderland and the area around Fawcett Street and High Street back to life.
Ivor Crowther, head of HLF North East, said: “From inspiring landscapes and memories of communities built on industry, to emerging art scenes and landmarks that have existed for centuries, the diversity of North East culture is incredible.”
Rebecca Ball, project director for Sunderland’s 2021 bid, said: “This is such wonderful news and keeps the momentum building.
“It’s further evidence of Sunderland’s cultural renaissance and there’s a ‘living legacy’ that is developing even before we’ve submitted our first-round bid.”