Staff and volunteers at Dorchester Arts are celebrating after receiving a 56% increase in their funding from the Arts Council. The charity is among 695 organisations across the country awarded new status as a National Portfolio Organisation - giving it a guaranteed role to deliver a programme of arts projects to the local community.
“We are a tiny arts organisation doing extraordinary work. To have secured increased funding in the light of national cuts is wonderful recognition of our work and great news for the thousands of people involved in our projects and our events,” explained Dorchester Arts Chair, Alastair Nisbet.
“This guarantees Dorchester Festival in both 2012 and 2014 and ensures our programme and community work are secure up to 2015. It’s also great news for Weymouth where we are already running three projects with young people - and have plans to expand. In the past we have had to apply separately for support for Dorchester Festival, and have not always been able to run the festival - now this support is included in our core funding, so it will be embedded in our programme, giving us financial security for the event.”
“Dorchester Festival has been hailed as a regional exemplar championing cultural diversity. In last year’s festival we put on 65 free events, worked with 708 performers and attracted more than 15,000 audience members.”
“Our aim is to provide great art for everyone and guaranteed funding for the next two Festivals is the boost we need to make it an even stronger event, drawing in more people than ever.”
“Arts Council funding is being cut by 30% as part of government cuts so to secure enhanced funding in these circumstances is wonderful recognition of the value of the work we are doing. I must pay a special tribute to the brilliant work of our staff and particularly to Artistic Director Sharon Hayden and our Strategy Director Chris Huxley who together devised our three year strategy. Our success is also down to the wonderful support we receive from our other major funders - Dorchester Town Council and West Dorset District Council, who worked closely with us on the 2009 review of the arts in Dorchester and who continue to be key partners in our work."
“We look forward to an exciting time ahead enabling more people to enjoy high quality inspirational arts and to raising the cultural profile of Dorchester the Jurassic coast and the Cultural Olympiad.”
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| Celebrating: Dorchester ARTS Artistic Director Sharon Hayden (left) with Strategy Director Chris Huxley, Admin assistant Celeste Hayden and Chair of the Board Alastair Nisbet |
Note to editors:
Arts Council England South West have announced guaranteed funding for Dorchester Arts of over £58,000 per annum, for three years 2012 - 2015.
For more information contact:
Alastair Nisbet, Chair of Dorchester ARTS
01305 266926
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