Government's £12 million boost to our cultural infrastructure
Baltic and others celebrate
Cultural venues and organisations across the North East are to receive a £12 million share of the Government’s Arts Everywhere Fund, announced by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy who has committed up to £1.5 billion to the cultural sector during this parliament.
The Government’s stated aim earlier this year was to save more than 1,000 arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England.
Gratitude came tinged with relief at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead where current work around the lifts has entailed barriers and apologetic signs for visitors.
Gateshead’s landmark gallery has been awarded £3,649,800, the largest sum destined for the North East from any of the three separate funds which fall under the Arts Everywhere Fund umbrella.
Director Sarah Munro said: “We are grateful that our application to the Creative Foundations Fund was successful.
“This is such welcome news. The amount we will receive is significant, as are the maintenance costs in operating Baltic, an iconic and much-loved gallery that has now received 10 million visits.
“This investment is for essential building works and infrastructure upgrades, crucial to successfully managing the building.
“As Baltic approaches its 25th anniversary in 2027, we want to keep welcoming and engaging millions more visitors, communities, children and young people in art and creativity.
“Maintaining the building is crucial in doing that.”
In Hexham, a grant of £393,068 to the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre brought the prospect of no more buckets in corridors.
Katy Taylor, artistic director and CEO, said: “The roof has been leaking for a long time. It’s a Victorian building with quite a big roof.
“The money will enable us to carry out essential roof repairs and also buy some new equipment, such as a PA and lighting system.
“It’ll be lovely when we get to the moment of not having buckets in corridors because it is quite time-consuming.
“Getting this money is a massive relief. It’s a great investment and really exciting.”
Katy estimated it would take three years to get all the work done, with the roof repairs enabling further improvements to be done internally.
In Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley, popular music venue The Cluny is to be a beneficiary with The Cluny Events (North East) CIC to get £334,000 after a successful application.
Production manager Ross Lewis said: “We are delighted that we are one of 12 North East venues, museums and libraries to receive funding.
“This is for external and internal building works at The Cluny and Cluny 2 to improve accessibility and the implementation of a decarbonisation plan.
“The funding will ensure that audiences from across the North East can continue to enjoy live music at The Cluny and Cluny 2 for decades to come.”
Other North East beneficiaries of the Creative Foundations Fund are:
Northern Stage (Theatrical Productions) Ltd, Newcastle: £192,600
36 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley: £847,932
Gateway Studio CIO, Gateshead: £400,000
Middlesbrough Council Cultural Services: £2,259,000
From the Museum Estate and Development Fund, Hartlepool Borough Council is to receive £2,458.641 and Chesters Roman Fort & Museum, in Northumberland, £476,566.
The Libraries Improvement Fund will also benefit Hartlepool residents with Hartlepool Borough Council set to get a further £94,400 while Northumberland Libraries is to receive £491,022 and Gateshead Council Library Service £71,794.
Among examples of how the money is to be spent is the plan for 36 Lime Street, the long-established complex of artists’ studios in the Ouseburn Valley, Byker, to be made more accessible and energy-efficient.
It will also enable space within the former industrial warehouse to be reconfigured to create a communal workshop and education room.
The improvements will secure affordable studio space for more than 50 artists, expand opportunities for young people and schools and improve access for disabled users or visitors.
At Chesters Roman Fort & Museum, the grant will be used to repair water damage.
The listed building is home to the Clayton Collection which includes important finds from sites along Hadrian’s Wall.
Meanwhile Gateshead Council Library Service plans to develop MakerPlace, a space for digital-assisted craft and design used by local residents, schools and community groups.
It will enable the purchase of equipment and the installation of room dividers to make the space more flexible.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said about the investment announced today (April 14): “I want everyone everywhere to feel a sense of pride about where they come from.
“Cultural organisations across the North East are important custodians of local identity and play a key role in the story we tell ourselves as a nation.
“Our Arts Everywhere Fund is delivering on our commitment to support cultural assets across the country, increasing access and preserving them for future generations.
“This is demonstrated by grants announced today that will benefit 12 culture venues, museums and library services across the North East.
“Arts and culture are the beating hearts of our communities. They have the power to unite us in the face of division and break down barriers to opportunity.
“We want to harness the power to help us build a brighter future for the people of the North East.”
The investment announced today, totalling £127.8 million, is being administered by Arts Council England (ACE).
Rebecca Ball, area director, North, ACE, said: “Our museums, libraries and arts organisations have the power to change lives. They give us access to new worlds, teach us about our heritage and give us new perspectives on life.
“I’m so pleased that we’ll be supporting so many of our cultural organisations in the North with this capital investment which will ensure that they can continue to deliver incredible arts and culture to their communities.”
Across the country, the Creative Foundations Fund has allocated £96 million to 74 organisations to help them address urgent infrastructure needs.
The Museum Estate and Development Fund has distributed £25.5 million to support 28 museums to undertake infrastructure work and improve the visitor experience.
The Libraries Improvement Fund has allocated a share of £6.3 million to 28 library services to help them upgrade buildings and technology.