Consortium bids have been well received by Arts Council England in choosing its new National Portfolio Organisations. Farnham Maltings will see its regular funding jump from £212,000 this year to £820,000 in 2014/15, in support of its role at the heart of ‘house’, an existing consortium of regional producers and programmers who share the ambition of revitalising touring across the South East and East. The additional cash is mainly ring-fenced to enable eight organisations – Brighton Festival and Dome, Oxford Playhouse, Newbury Corn Exchange, The Point in Eastleigh, Farnham Maltings, New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, South Street in Reading and Theatre Royal Margate – to co-present, co-commission and co-produce work for regional audiences, both at their own venues and at other venues across the whole region. Whilst Farnham Maltings will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the consortium’s work, the strategic direction and long-term planning will be driven by consortium representatives, with the aim of “connecting the ambitions of artists with audiences in the region”, according to Chief Executive Gavin Stride. He told AP: “Touring promotes shared ambition, and the active involvement of venues across the region and the confidence of artists will ybe crucial.” The consortium is keen to hear from potential partners interested in contributing to and benefitting from the initiative. Another successful consortium bid, by Lincoln Arts Trust on behalf of Lincolnshire One Venues, involves five core partner venues – Guildhall Arts Centre Grantham, Lincoln Drill Hall, Riverhead Theatre Louth, South Holland Centre Spalding, and Stamford Arts Centre – and a further seven organisations across Lincolnshire. Led by Lincoln Drill Hall, the consortium will focus on commissioning new performances and exhibitions, and on audience development initiatives across all 12 venues.