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Funding for arts groups unveiled as part of new Preston cultural plan

Posted on - 16th June, 2014 - 7:00pm | Author - | Posted in - Arts, Preston Council, Preston News

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Artists and arts groups from across Preston are being invited to bid for a share of £15,000.

Preston City Council has unveiled its Cultural Framework for a city – an arts plan for the next four years.

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It followed a public consultation asking for Prestonian’s views on the arts offering in the city.

Local arts organisations and groups are being invited to apply for up to £3,000 each.

It comes as the city council says it wants to position the city as a cultural centre.

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Much talk was made of continuing the legacy of the Preston Guild from 2012, and the likes of the Harris Flights last summer went some way towards that.

Councillor Peter Rankin, leader of the city council, said: “We know from the fantastic events of Guild Year that there is a lot of talent in the city, and a huge potential for enabling more people to benefit from the arts – as audiences, participants and practitioners.

“The Cultural Framework recognises the importance of culture to the city and sets out our aspirations for the next four years.

“It shows our determination to work with our partners and those in the arts and cultural sectors to build for the future.”

The grants to arts organisations is the first step in boosting the number of arts organisations and cultural events in the city.

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Jenny Rater, interim chair of Preston Creative Partnership, said: “Preston Creative Partnership welcomes the newly stated commitment of Preston City Council to the importance of arts and culture.

“We hope that the Cultural Framework can be a starting point for a fruitful dialogue between the council and the arts and creative sector about how we can play an integral role in the growth of our City.

“Preston Creative Partnership are also pleased to see that the council’s messages about the importance of arts and culture are being backed up with some financial support, but would hope that this is only an initial sum, and that it can be used to lever further and more substantial investment into the sector, to really underline the importance of this agenda for Preston moving forwards.”

The Framework makes it clear the council is seeking to encourage external investment in the arts scene in the city – as the council itself has little financial capital to play with given it needs to find £3.6 million of savings in the next three years.

The full cultural framework is available to read on the council website.

Anyone wishing to apply for the arts grants can email the city council’s cultural development manager Samantha Blackburn on s.blackburn@preston.gov.uk

What do you think of the framework? Will you be applying for a grant? Let us know in the comments below

Image credit to Craig Atkinson

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