£1m boost for arts in the city
A popular arts project has secured £1million extra funding to extend its work in Sunderland.
The Cultural Spring has increased participation in arts and culture activities in the two local authority areas since 2014.
Its workshops, performances and support for community-basedartsprojectsare funded through Arts Council England’s (ACE) Creative People and Places programme (CPP).
For its next three-year programme, Cultural Spring will work solely in Sunderland. An ACEsurveyofartsengagement inSouthTynesiderevealedthe number of people taking part in arts activities had risen to a point where the borough was nolongereligibleforCPPfunding.
South Tyneside should now qualify for different funding streams after being announced as a Priority Funding Area by ACE.
The latest grant brings Cultural Spring’s total CPP funding to £5.5million since 2014. The new Sunderland programme begins in April 2022.
EmmaHorsman,projectdirector
of Cultural Spring, said: “We’re thrilled to have been given this huge vote of confidencebyACEandlookforward to continuing and extending our work in Sunderland.
“We plan to be continue with our seasonal workshop programmes, online and in Wearside venues, with our YourArtCommunityCommissions,andwithourpopularGo and See visits, which give local people the opportunity to experience arts and culture outside of their neighbourhoods and communities.
“We also aim to deliver research and development projects with communities that could lead to potential largescale commissions.
“For the past seven years
half of our delivery has been in South Tyneside, and we’re pleased to see engagement ratesintheboroughhaverisen. Hopefully we’ve played a part in that increase.
“However, we remain passionate about helping to increase arts participation in South Tyneside yet further. To do so we’ll be working through ournewly-establishedCultural Spring Charity.
“South Tyneside will also hugely benefit from enhanced investmentafterbeingnamed as a Priority Place by ACE.”
Graeme Thompson, chair of the Cultural Spring steering board, said: “We’re delighted our work will continue in Sunderland for a further three years.”