The day is here

Many WAP members have been awaiting Arts Council England's decisions about who they will invite to be part of the National Portfolio funding scheme.

I think it's fair to say that from Wiltshire's perspective we can breathe a sigh of relief in that all of our former regularly funded organisations have proved themselves worthy of National Portfolio status, we have a couple of WAP members who had hoped to have been able to become regularly funded by ACE in this new process who were unfortunately not successful this time, but we do have a new regularly funded organisation, The Pound Arts Trust, which is fabulous news. Have a look at this link for the nationwide picture of National Portfolio organisations. http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/national-portfolio-funding/

These are ACE's headlines

Total National Portfolio investment between April 2012 and March 2015:

* Grant in aid: £956 million
* Lottery: £54 million for touring. £31 million for children and young people
* We received 1,333 applications to join the National portfolio, submitting bids for a total of £1.4 billion
* The new National portfolio of 695 organisations replaces the previous regularly funded organisations portfolio of 849
* 110 new organisations have been added to the National portfolio
* 791 regularly funded organisations applied for National portfolio funding, 585 were successful
* 206 former regularly funded organisations will no longer receive funding
* Lottery and the portfolio between April 2012 and March 2015
* Touring receives major support with £18 million Lottery a year earmarked for portfolio organisations
* £10.5 million Lottery a year targeted at work with children and young people, to ensure vital educational work continues

So a huge congratulations to all of Wiltshire's National Portfolio Organisations and to everyone who adds to the diverse arts work that goes on in Wiltshire with or without public funding. Let's work together to ensure we provide the very best arts opportunities for our communities and arts professionals.