Local Member of Parliament, and former Minister for Culture, Dame Caroline Dinenage has welcomed the news that Hampshire Cultural Trust has been successful in their bid for funding from the Arts Council England (ACE), to the tune of £500,000.
This is part of a wider government investment of £446 million into 990 organisations nationwide, providing a long-term investment in our country’s talent and supporting the next generation of creators, performers and artists.
The Government is supporting our world-class, established organisations that have done so much to build England’s reputation as one of the most creative countries in the world. It is also supporting 276 new organisations, reaching new audiences and increasing opportunity for people of all backgrounds. National icons such as the Royal Opera House and Royal Shakespeare Company will receive investment, along with the Hampshire Cultural Trust, who fund the Gosport Museum & Art Gallery.
This investment in arts and culture will pay dividends across England, boosting our country’s economic growth, creating jobs in local areas, and bringing communities closer together.
Commenting, Caroline said:
“I am focused on making sure that more people in more places can enjoy arts and culture on their doorstep and I will continue working with the Government to provide local organisations with the funding and support they need.
“I am delighted that £500,000 has been awarded to the Hampshire Cultural Trust, who provide funding for the Gosport Museum & Art Gallery. It is great to see the government commit to its levelling up agenda in the cultural sector, funding culture programmes beyond London.
“As a former Culture Minister, I know first-hand of the benefit that a strong cultural sector can have to the economy, to the wellbeing of our population and to the success of our country. I am thrilled to see so much investment being made into our local area.”
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said:
“Thanks to this new government funding package, spreading more money to more communities than ever before, people living in areas from Wolverhampton to Wigan and Crawley to Chesterfield will now get to benefit from the deep economic and social rewards culture can bring.
“We continue to support our icons such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Shakespeare Company, but today's announcement will see organisations in places all too often overlooked get the support they need to transform access to the arts for everyone–no matter where they live.”