Henry Smith MP has welcomed the announcement that thanks to the Government, 990 organisations will receive a share of £446 million each year between 2023-2026.
This includes £450,000 for The Posh Club in Crawley over the next three years, following Henry’s efforts to help secure funding for the organisation after this was threatened when National Lottery support came to an end earlier this year.
Henry said;
“I’m delighted that funding has been secured for The Posh Club in Crawley. Having visited the club many times over the years I know the invaluable companionship support it provides to many more elderly residents across our town week in, week out.
“It’s right that Government is making sure that more people in more places can enjoy arts and culture on their doorstep. I look forward to working further with the Government to see that local organisations get the funding and support they need.
“The funding being delivered by the Government will pay dividends across Crawley, boosting our local economy, creating jobs in the area, and bringing our communities closer together.”
The Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Secretary, Michelle Donelan, commented by adding;
“Thanks to this new Government funding package, spreading more money to more communities than ever before, people living in areas from Wolverhampton to Wigan and Crawley to Chesterfield will now get to benefit from the deep economic and social rewards culture can bring.
“We continue to support our icons such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Shakespeare Company, but today's announcement will see organisations in places all too often overlooked get the support they need to transform access to the arts for everyone – no matter where they live.”
By targeting the Arts Council’s Levelling Up places, 78 designated towns and cities from Stoke to Slough and Gloucester to Wigan will receive £130 million of funding over the next three years. This is a 95 per cent increase in investment in these areas and will support new organisations, making sure that communities across the country benefit from investment in culture and the jobs which it brings.
The Government is supporting our world-class, established organisations that have done so much to build England’s reputation as one of the most creative countries in the world. It is also supporting 276 new organisations, reaching new audiences and increasing opportunity for people of all backgrounds.
National icons such as the Royal Opera House and Royal Shakespeare Company will receive investment, while the National Football Museum in Manchester and Gloucestershire Libraries will receive new funding.
The latest round of funding will benefit arts organisations, museums, and libraries in every corner of the country. From Northumberland to Norfolk, and from Cornwall to Cumbria, the Government is making sure that investment is concentrated in places that historically have been underserved.
This investment in arts and culture will pay dividends across England, boosting our country’s economic growth, creating jobs in local areas, and bringing communities closer together.
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