Arts funding

More than a third of applicants to the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) were unsuccesful.

Arts Council England (ACE), which has now administered seven rounds of emergency support, declined requests from ArtsProfessional for the success rate for the £262m second round after 578 organisations - nearly a third of applicants - were rejected in the first.

However, minutes from a National Council meeting in March, published November 30, reveal 3,831 organisations bid for support in CRF round two.

Altogether, 2,277 organisations were given funding, making the success rate for this round about 59%. The success rate for round one was 70%.

ACE says it plans to release application numbers and success rates once all of the CRF has been allocated.

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre faces a funding cut it says could damage itself, its council and its community.

Guildford Borough Council is considering cutting funding to the theatre in phases until 2024, or charging rent for its Old Mill Studio site.

Director and Chief Executive Joanna Read said she appreciated the pressure on council finances but that the theatre is in "an equally critical place".

"We believe that cutting the grant to the Arnaud too quickly or too deeply will damage Guildford and, in the medium and long-term, the revenues of the council".

A recent economic impact study by the University of Surrey found the theatre contributes at least £1.5m to the local economy.

87% of theatre visitors would not have come into town otherwise, the study found.

The next official survey of private investment in the cultural sector will help organisations to become more effective fundraisers, Arts Council England says.

The funder has called on not-for-profit organisations to take part in the research, which will consider the varied impact of Covid-19 on donations and sponsorship.

"Some organisations have benefited hugely from the generosity of loyal donors in their hour of need, while others have struggled to maintain levels of fundraising, let alone develop them further," Chair Nicholas Serota wrote.

The last survey in 2019 found individuals, trusts, foundations and businesses were giving £545m to cultural organisations.

Organisations have been encouraged to contribute to this year's, not only to help the arts council but also to think about their own business planning.

"There are examples from across the country that show how organisations of all sizes can build sustained and fruitful relationships with every kind of donor," Serota added.

Eleven schools in Northern Ireland will each receive funding to hire professional artists.

£15,000 has been awarded by the Creative Schools Partnership, a combination of National Lottery, Education Authority and NI Executive funding, across the schools' proposals.

Projects include screenwriting, dance, photography, filmmaking and music composition. Grants will cover two years' work.

First Minister Paul Givan said: “This successful partnership has already seen hundreds of children engage with the programme within post-primary schools in urban villages areas.

“The young people have benefited from this innovative arts-based approach, which has supported curriculum learning and improved their educational outcomes.”

Grants of up to £10,000 are on offer to creative and cultural activities celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Arts Council England (ACE) will launch the Let's Create Jubilee Fund in January to encourage partnerships between established artists and cultural organisations.

"We’re giving people across the country the chance to come together to experience the joy of culture and creativity in celebration of this historic milestone," Chief Executive Darren Henley said.

The National Lottery Community Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Sport England are also committing a cumulative £13.5m to support Jubilee-themed events.

More details about the fund will be published on the UK Community Foundations website next month.

Freelands Foundation has awarded £800,000 to two projects addressing racial inequality in the visual arts.

Wysing Arts Centre’s Syllabus artist development programme has received £500,000 to support it over the next decade. 

Every year, the project offers 10 artists from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds mentoring, artistic development and peer networking to create pathways into the sector.

University of the Arts London's (UAL) Decolonising Arts Institute will receive £300,000 towards its three-year 20/20 programme, which places 20 Black and Brown artists in residencies across the UK.

Since 2020, Freelands Foundation has awarded over £2m to organisations boosting opportunities for Black and Brown artists.

“These two new grants are a landmark in terms of our continuing commitment to addressing racial inequality throughout the visual arts,” said Diversity Action Group Chair Sonita Alleyne.

A 10-year cultural strategy for Rushmoor will increase opportunities for arts engagement and attract up to £1m investment.

A recent consultation asked residents for their views on culture in the borough, including how best to link creative and heritage activities to tourism and public spaces.

Rushmoor Borough Councillor Marina Munro, Member for Planning and Economy, said Aldershot and Farnborough have significant natural assets and "famous" military and aviation heritage.

"However, there is a small, under-developed and under-connected arts scene with huge potential to grow. The new cultural strategy will enable us to secure funding and capitalise on these opportunities over the next 10 years."

She said research shows cultural engagement and participation in the borough is "significantly lower" than the national average, making it one of the UK's lowest areas of arts engagement.

Rushmoor is among Arts Council England's priority places for investment, which is expected to receive an additional £1m.