THE innovative and slightly wacky world of Courtyard-based company New Theatre Works has received Arts Council funding of more than £20,000.

Having staggered from one project to the next in its seven year history, director Ellie Parker admitted to being "as imaginative about funding applications" as she is able.

"Often it is a case of hearing where there might be some money, and going there - like with the wonderfully bizarre River Wye-based production which was funded by green transport and rivers leaderplus.

"You don't get money for just 'doing the arts', we will be running three very innovative courses of workshops with specific endpoints."

"We didn't get the exact figure we asked for, and the guidelines are confusing."

At a time when voluntary sector grants are on hold and creative industries money is being thinned down, Ellie is grateful for the backing her company has received from the Arts Council.

In what she regards as a "kafkaesque situation", which she has found "thoroughly demoralising and exhausting, lacking in transparency and communication", Ellie said: "It's absurd to suggest that if you're providing a service, professionally, it's not going to cost, albeit minimally. It is possible to keep going, but it's not easy. I've been on the point of giving up."

On the cards for 2005 is a tour of rural Herefordshire churches with a newly-commissioned play charting their change in status; a series of radio drama workshops; an acting for adults workshop and the opportunity for five young writers to see their work performed on stage at the Courtyard.