Arts Council awarded £4.3 million to diverse cultural organisations
Arts Council England has invested £4.3 million of National Lottery funding into 45 diverse-led organisations across the country, to further strengthen diversity in the arts and cultural sector.
Organisations were funded through the Arts Council’s Elevate programme, which was initiated to help support the resilience of diverse-led organisations.
Originally set at £3m, the budget for this scheme increased due the number of the applications received and the long-term term significance of the programme.
This round of Elevate, aims to unpack the under-representation of people with disabilities and people from Black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds across the arts sector. Thereby, allowing such organisations to deliver their mission, develop new partnerships and increase levels of income.
Touretteshero CIC and Selina Thompson Ltd are one of the many arts organisations to have received funding from the Arts Council England.
Touretteshero CIC, is a project aimed at increasing awareness of Tourette’s Syndrome. Awarded with £100,000, Tourett have the necessary means to find and equip an accessible office, appoint new staff to increase capacity and develop governance that is diverse and multi-skilled.
Selina Thompson Ltd (Birmingham) is a Black-led theatre company. Founded by Selina Thompson, her work is centred on the way that identity shapes our lives and intersects with politics, the environment and topics such as freedom.
Now awarded with £100,000, Selina Thompson Ltd has the opportunity to embark on a period of organisational development. Such as increasing the size of its team and finding a dedicated space for the company in Birmingham.
Abid Hussain, Director of Diversity, Arts Council England, said: "Supporting and nurturing diverse talent is a crucial priority for the Arts Council; through Elevate we are investing in an exciting pipeline of diverse organisations that make a vital contribution to the country’s cultural provision, empowering under-represented voices.
"I’m particularly pleased to note the increased scale of our Elevate funding, which demonstrates our continued ambition to create a more inclusive cultural sector which produces work relevant to people from all communities and backgrounds."
All in all, individual grants were awarded between £75,000 and £100,000.
Source: Arts Council England
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