BARROW and Kendal are among dozens of towns and cities set to receive a share of £446 million in arts funding.

A number of organisations in South Cumbria have been chosen by Arts Council England to receive their share of £43.5 million annually, for the next three years.

The Arts Council’s Levelling Up for Culture Places in the North will see a 65 per cent increase in investment as part of the plans which will benefit 78 designated towns and cities from across the country.

In total, 282 organisations in the North will receive a share of £446 million nationally (each year) ensuring that more people in more places can find fantastic, fulfilling art and culture on their doorsteps.

In Cumbria, Arts Council England is increasing their funding by £729,353 per year through the Arts Council’s Investment Programme, which supports a national portfolio of cultural organisations.

Through this Investment Programme, the council will be investing a total of £11.5 million in Cumbria over three years from 2023-2026.

This investment will go to 13 organisations in Cumbria, including Signal Film and Media in Barrow, Lakes International Comic Art Festival in South Lakeland, Brewery Arts in Kendal, Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Art Gene Limited, Cumbria Museum Consortium, Eden Arts, Full of Noises (Octopus Collective Ltd), Grizedale Arts, Highlights Productions, Prism Arts and Rosehill Theatre.

The council has maintained its investment in the Cumbria Museum Consortium, which includes support for Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle, Wordsworth Grasmere and Lakeland Arts which comprises Windermere Jetty Museum, Blackwell in Bowness-on-Windermere, Abbot Hall in Kendal and the Lakeland Museum.  

The council has also recently invested in a new Creative People and Places project in Cumbria, including BarrowFull in Barrow.

Jen Cleary, the Arts Council’s North director, said: “This investment will bring the joy and the benefits of culture into the heart of communities across Cumbria, giving more people the chance to enjoy fantastic creative and cultural activities where they live.

“Creativity boosts economic growth, creates jobs, brings communities closer together and offers comfort and enjoyment, and we’re delighted to support all of the organisations that will form our national portfolio for the next three years.”