Awards of over £1.9 million from the Arts Council’s Capital

#wathupondearne

Six cultural organisations in Yorkshire awarded over £1.9 million from
the Arts Council’s Capital: Small Grants programme to boost the county’s
cultural facilities.
29 October 2018

Arts Council England has announced that they will be awarding £3.6
million to 11 organisations across the North in the latest round of
their Capital: Small Grants programme.

Amongst the successful applicants are six cultural organisations from
Yorkshire. Barnsley Museums have received £125,000 to transform an empty
cottage at the rear of the Cooper Gallery in Barnsley into an artist
studio space, with exhibition areas and a café. The investment will help
to develop digital artforms throughout the studio and courtyard to
encourage the development and exhibition of new innovative content.

The Hepworth Wakefield has been awarded £499,999 to transform its
outdoor site into a beautiful free public garden. The garden will
feature sculptures and will have its own imaginative outdoor programme
which will help to introduce new audiences to the art gallery and will
encourage more people to take part in the arts.

York Early Music Foundation, trading as the National Centre for Early
Music, has been given £144,200 to upgrade its building facilities
including works to improve disabled access to the venue and to artistic
participation, as well as to make the building more energy efficient.

Three organisations in Leeds have also received funding. Opera North
Limited has been awarded £499,999; Heads Together Productions Limited
will receive £250,000; and East Street Arts will receive £400,000.

The Arts Council’s Capital: Small Grants programme helps to ensure
organisations have the right buildings and equipment to deliver their
work, helping them build resilience and become more sustainable and
innovative businesses. The grants, which range between £100,000 and
£499,999, allow organisations to consolidate and improve existing
facilities and equipment, make energy efficiencies and develop new
digital technologies.

Councillor Miller, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place said: “The Cooper
Gallery is a cultural gem in the heart of Barnsley. The gallery has an
outstanding collection of artwork which is owned by the Cooper Trustees
and we are proud to display in the town. We are extremely grateful to
the Arts Council for their continued support and the funding to
transform the Cooper Cottages will have a huge impact on the Gallery.
Currently unused space will become a hub of creativity and provide local
artists with the opportunity to develop their portfolios.”

Sarah Maxfield, Area Director North, Arts Council England, said: “The
Arts Council’s Small Capital Grants help to ensure that organisations
have the right buildings and equipment so that they can continue
reaching new and broader audiences, to ensure that everyone is able to
access arts and culture. I am proud to see that in this round of funding
we have been able to give £3.6 million to support 11 organisations from
across the North to achieve their ambitions to improve how they deliver
arts and culture to our communities.”

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