90,000 reasons for arts groups to be happy (From Worcester News)

90,000 reasons for arts groups to be happy

8:30pm Monday 29th March 2010 in

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A TOTAL of £90,000 should help strengthen the arts in Worcestershire.

It is hoped that the grants being handed out by Worcestershire County Council to various arts organisations and projects will reinforce the role that the arts already plays in the economy and further enhance the county’s cultural heritage.

The money has been divided between 22 local projects and venues which were chosen by the council’s arts service department.

One of the venues to benefit includes Worcester Arts Workshop.

The future of the arts centre in Sansome Street looked bleak 18 months ago after the Arts Council axed its £25,000 annual grant and Worcester City Council dropped its £27,000-a-year funding.

The city centre venue has now been given £7,000 by the county council.

Others benefiting include the Swan Theatre and Huntingdon Hall (joint £15,000 grant, county-wide dance facilitator DanceFest (£10,000), the Worcester Music Festival (£1,000), innovative theatre company Vamos (£4,000) and the Worcester Guild of Bell-ringers (£3,000).

The bellringers, based at Worcester Cathedral, will use the money to employ professional tutors.

Stephen Wilson, county council’s arts officer, said: “To fund more groups and projects than last year was a testament to the range and quality of the arts that is on offer in Worcestershire. The council believes that these projects and organisations can play a significant role in enhancing the quality of life in this county as well enriching the local economy.”

Funding has also been given to one-off projects such as Minds Eye, a literature scheme which is based in Kidderminster and Arts in Minds, a visual arts scheme which helps people with mental illness and takes arts into Worcester High Street, and For information on applying for 2010/2011 grants, call 01905 765754 or go to worcestershire.gov.uk/arts.