- Warrington included in list of 100 areas with low cultural participation which will be prioritised for new arts funding thanks to the Conservative Government.
- Andy Carter MP is keen to help cultural organisations across Warrington South to bid for the funding which will increase by around £75 million by 2025.
- These plans, set out by the Conservative Government, aim to redress structural imbalances in distribution of Arts Council England funding and level up access to the arts, ensuring that arts and culture are accessible to everyone regardless of where they live.
Conservative MP Andy Carter is encouraging cultural organisations across Warrington South to bid for funding from the £75 million boost in culture funding for English regions from the department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport.
The boost in financial support will make sure places which have been culturally under-served in years gone by get a better distribution of arts funding and help level up people’s opportunities to enjoy and experience arts and culture.
As part of the plans, Arts Council England (ACE) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have identified 109 ‘Levelling Up for Culture Places’ which will be targeted for additional investment.
Organisations old and new in areas that historically have had low investment in arts and culture will be encouraged to bid for funds, meaning places such as Wolverhampton, Hartlepool, Rotherham, Peterborough as well as Warrington could be given the extra support they need to build on their rich cultural heritage.
Arts Council England will also detail plans to support London-based applicants which wish to move, expand, or establish new activity outside London, helping to deliver a truly national cultural offering.
The Conservative Government is delivering on its commitment set out in its Levelling Up White Paper to raise cultural spending significantly outside the capital, boosting opportunity for all.
Mr Carter said:
For far too long cultural investment has been unfairly distributed, despite the wealth of talent spread across the country.
Lots of different groups have been in touch with me, including groups keen to see a new performance space in Lymm, a theatre for the town and groups in Penketh wanting to improve arts facilities in the village. The Government’s funding boost for cultural organisations in areas of historically low cultural engagement is a vital step forward in redressing these structural imbalances, and I urge cultural organisations across Warrington South to bid for funds.
