1:00pm Tuesday 19th February 2008
By Louise Dunderdale
WALFORD Mill Crafts in Wimborne is one of a handful of venues in Dorset whose staff have learned they have gained three more years of funding from the Arts Council England.
Walford Mill's funding is worth just over £50,000 per year and will increase by 2.7 percent for the next three years until March 2011.
The cash will be spent to continue to deliver and promote Walford Mill's education and exhibition programme, and improve the quality and quantity of activities they offer.
Other organisations have also had their regular funding continued or increased in line with inflation.
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will continue to gain over £2.5m per year to help its extensive programme of national and international touring, recording and broadcasting.
DepARTure (Dorset arts education partnership agency) will receive near £30,000 per year, and the Lighthouse in Poole will gain over £300,000 per year.
Activate (Dorset Dance) will receive just over £50,000 per year to support and promote a wide range of dance and theatre activity in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch and the rural arts development organisation Artsreach will receive just over £50,000 per year.
Walford Mill chief executive Christine Lawry said: "There are hundreds of talented local artists and crafts people.
"Our aim is to promote them alongside the national and international makers through our exhibitions, craft shop, educational activities and other events."
The Arts Council England, the national development agency for the arts in England, has invested £1.3 billion of public money from Government and the National Lottery between 2008 and 2011 in 888 arts organisations, including 81 new organisations.
But nationally 185 organisations did not have their funding renewed and 27 organisations had their funding reduced.
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