Carnival and museum receive a share of £2m cultural funding
SOMERSET’S historic Bridgwater Carnival and Dorset’s Poole Museum are among South West organisations to receive a share of around £2m for upgrades and improvements.
The cash grants of between £100,000 and £750,000 are part of Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme, which is aimed at boosting cultural organisations around the country.
Bridgwater Carnival – the UK’s oldest of its kind – has received £650,000 to redevelop its semi-derelict carnival centre with purposebuilt workshop facilities.
It will also use the money to create better access to historical archives.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council was awarded £450,000 to improve the physical and digital presence of Poole Museum, including a new temporary gallery and a dedicated space supporting a programme of artist residencies, workshops and community activities.
Other South West organisations to receive cash include the Wesley Community and Arts Centre in the Forest of Dean, which was awarded £180,000 to transform a former grade-II listed church into an arts centre.
And Swindon Dance in Wiltshire was awarded £100,000 for facilities development.
Phil Gibby, South West area director for Arts Council England, said: “It’s not just bricks and mortar – with better buildings comes improved accessibility, new technology and a reduced environmental footprint. This public funding comes at a crucial time and matters more than ever to staff, volunteers and visitors. We can’t wait to see plans take shape.”
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, minister for arts, heritage and libraries, said it was “vital” the infrastructure of Britain’s cultural organisations matched “the excellence” of the creative work taking place inside them.
“Our funding is helping both to create new venues and to adapt existing ones to make them more accessible,” he added.
This public funding ... matters more than ever to staff, volunteers and visitors PHIL GIBBY