Bristol receives exceptionally large Exceptional Award

Bristol Cultural Development Partnership (BCDP) has received almost £750k from Arts Council England (ACE) for projects that will take place in 2015 when the city is European Green Capital. The money comes from a £7m pot of Lottery funds earmarked for ‘exceptional projects’ between July 2013 and March 2015, and is the largest grant given so far. The Exceptional Awards programme originally planned to provide up to 25 grants worth between £50k and £250k, although “exceptional cases” are being made for projects making “a significant additional contribution to helping the Arts Council deliver its strategic vision”. BCDP plans to use the money for six arts projects that make “sustainable living accessible and easy to understand”, including a year-long ‘Festival of the Future City’ and the creation of a life-size sculpture of a Blue Whale in Bristol Harbourside. ACE Chief Executive Alan Davey said it is “a project of such ambition and with such national and international impact that it sits outside the normal funding routes… The programme we are supporting will place the green agenda on a more creative and contemporary platform that really engages everyone”.

Just under a year into the Exceptional Awards programme, £5.6m of a total budget of around £7m has been allocated to 21 projects, six of which received more than £250k. Some are due to take place this summer. The Great North Run Culture received £400k for an ambitious programme of events and exhibitions taking place in September, which will explore the North East's sporting and industrial heritage to celebrate one million runners completing the Great North Run. Almost £350k was awarded to The Big Dance Weekend, a series of large-scale performances and participation events which will take place across England on 12-13 July. The first recipient of an exceptional award was IF Milton Keynes International Festival, where the dance performance ‘Under The Vaulted Sky’ is due to  take place from 18-20 July.