North East art organisations could benefit from £44.5m funding

Apr 25 2009 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

However, he said this week’s performance could have sold out three times over.

“At the moment, this week we could do with three times as many tickets.”

Mr Bernays added that the funding had similar traits to a previous stabilisation programme launched by Arts Council England.

He added: “It was a bit of a bailout of arts organisations that have got themselves into trouble. I think it would be interesting to know how the Arts Council makes its decision.”

Ray Spencer, executive director of the Customs House in South Shields, welcomed the initiative.

He said: “The Customs House was experiencing, along with the rest of the country, a noticeable shift in the habits of its regular customers. Everything has become last-minute as people work out whether they can afford to go to the theatre on a night out and, at times, it has proved to be very nerve-wracking for us”

The funding package also includes £500,000 to support the Town Centres Initiative, enabling more artistic activities to take place in empty retail spaces, and a £4m increase in the grants for the arts budget over the next two years.

Mark Robinson, executive director, Arts Council England, North East said: “We’ve designed the measures to be positive action to help key arts organisations weather the recession. Mindful of the economic climate, we’re putting in place opportunities for real, tangible help for arts organisations in the North East and nationally.

“As ever we’ll be working with our partners in the region to make sure that in the North East the arts continue to thrive.”

Everything has become last-minute as people work out whether they can afford to go to the theatre