Arts Council England
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As we launch new funds, our new Chief Executive calls on government to back culture while promising a funding shift outside of London

Darren Henley has made his first public speech as our Chief Executive in Hull, as part of a day of events celebrating Hull as City of Culture 2017.

Get some background on the speech and a written copy here

Highlights from the speech

Darren announced “significant shift” in the distribution of Arts Council National Lottery funding: so that by the end of 2018 at least 75% of Lottery revenue will be invested outside of London. This builds on previous measures in a move to increase artistic production, ambition and growth outside of London.

A call to government that no further cuts are made to arts funding: to allow arts and culture to provide opportunity to individuals and communities everywhere: educationally, socially and economically.

Darren talked about his first six weeks at the Arts Council: having visited over 60 places and meeting more than 250 arts and cultural leaders, seeing first-hand “how the arts in England make up an extraordinary, interconnected creative ecology” reinforcing his “absolute commitment to public investment in the arts, in museums and in libraries”.

A commitment to developing creative talent across our country: “It’s ambitious. It will require us to build lots of bridges - and to blow up lots of barriers… Cultural Education should be a right, not a privilege [as] creative talent is everywhere. But opportunity is not.”

The speech ended on a promise to support diversity, artistic ambition and excellence and reach as the best possible argument for public funding for the arts: “I want the arts to speak to more people, but I want our voices to continue to be distinct, as they have always been. To be voices of ambition, daring and innovation, that challenge preconceptions, that think differently and freely and create great art in ways that have never been done before - art that changes people’s lives.”

Opened yesterday: new funding programmes

Ambition for excellence
Our new Ambition for excellence fund launched yesterday. We’ll be investing £35.2 million in helping organisations produce high quality and spectacular events and works of art, particularly outside London. The fund will develop talent and leadership in organisations as well as supporting individual creative projects. 

Creative writing in schools
The Creative writing in schools fund has been launched yesterday which will place professional writers in schools. Developed specifically for deprived areas and with low levels of arts engagement in the North and South West of England, the programme will inspire children through high quality workshops and residencies.

Large Capital programme
Our Large Capital grant programme has returned for 2015-18. Continuing our work of improving arts infrastructure with National Lottery funds, we’re planning on investing £88 million the length and breadth of England. 

Creative people and places opportunity
There’s now an opportunity for existing Creative people and places consortia to apply for funds to help more people experience and be inspired by the arts. £5 million is available in this round, with a further £5 million in April 2017.

 

Channel website: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

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