Full details of the roll-out of the government-funded Creative Partnerships programme have been unveiled.
Nine new locations are due to be admitted into the scheme in phase 2, starting in 2004, and a further eleven in Phase 3 starting the following year, bringing the total number of Creative Partnerships schemes to 36.
Currently 16 areas across England are involved in the programme, the aim of which is to facilitate the creation of long-term partnerships between schools and cultural and creative organisations in some of the most deprived areas of the country. The scheme aims to give school children in deprived areas throughout England the opportunity to develop creativity in learning and participate in cultural activities.
A total of £70m is being made available by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport during this new period of development for the Programme, and the Department for Education and Science is committing a further £2m in 2003-2004 and £2.5m in 2004-2005. Areas selected for the Creative Partnerships roll-out have been chosen on the basis that they are among the 10% of most deprived wards in England and are already in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Funds. Expansion has been based on recommendations from Arts Council England in consultation with various bodies, including Local Education Authorities, Local Authorities, Government Offices and cultural organisations. To ensure even national coverage of the programme, an equal number of Creative Partnerships will be created across the nine Government Office regions. In the next phase of development, Basildon, Derby, Enfield, Haringey & Waltham Forest, North/South Tyneside, Cumbria, Southampton with the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Coventry and Bradford will all be receiving funds. In the third phase, these will be joined by Tendring & Haven Gateway, Thurrock, Ashfield, Bolsover and Mansfield, Leicester, North & South East Northumberland, East Lancashire, Hastings & East Sussex, Stoke on Trent, Sheffield and three others yet to be confirmed. For further information see the Creative Partnerships website at w: http://www.creative-partnerships.com