Arts and culture organisations in the South Lakes have been given more than £370,000-worth of funding for the next two years.
South Lakeland District Council’s cabinet approved a total of £374,300 continued revenue funding for 12 organisations which contribute significantly to the district’s culture offering, ensuring stability through the transition phase of local government reorganisation.
In the past five years, the council said its investment in the organisations, deemed strategic culture partners, helped attract investment of more than £35 million to the district.
Councillor Robin Ashcroft, portfolio holder for economy, culture and leisure, said: “Since its inception in 2012, our approach to funding culture has contributed immeasurably to the quality of life of South Lakeland residents, strengthened and enhanced the world-class cultural offer in the district, boosted economic prosperity and levered in additional economic and cultural investment.
“South Lakeland District Council recognises the value of public investment in culture and its value in supporting the wider ambition and delivery of economic, cultural, social and environmental priorities of the council which has helped to promote South Lakeland as a great place to live work and do business and as a leading rural cultural destination.”
The annual amounts agreed were:
- Kendal Brewery Arts – £67,500
- Lakeland Arts – £27,500
- Wordsworth Trust – £17,500
- Grizedale Arts – £12,500
- Kendal Mountain Festival – £10,000
- Lakes Arts Festivals (delivering Lakes International Comic Arts Festival) – £10,000
- Ruskin Museum – £5,000
- Old Laundry Theatre – £5,000
- Kendal Torchlight – £4,500
- Lake District Summer Music (LDSM) – £13,050
- Ulverston Community Enterprises (UCE) – £9,500
- Highlights Rural Touring – £5,100
LDSM, Ulverston Community Enterprises and Highlights are designated hub organisations and their grants support partnership working with smaller groups. UCE acts as a hub for Ulverston International Music Festival, Printfest, South Cumbria Music Festival and Ulverston Lantern Festival; LDSM acts as a hub for classical music organisations Lakeland Sinfonia Concert Society, Westmorland Orchestra, Westmorland Youth Orchestra and Westmorland Music Trust; and Highlights Rural Touring acts as a hub organisation for the Heron Theatre Beetham.
The council said its approach to funding allowed organisations to lever significant levels of other investment from the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, and national trusts and foundations.
Cabinet members were told that there would be potential and opportunity for the new Westmorland and Furness Council, which comes into being in April 2023, to review the current portfolio of strategic organisations and investment within the first year of its operation.
