Chichester arts organisations are saved from cuts

Between them Pallant House Gallery and Chichester Festival Theatre will receive almost £5.3 million from Arts Council England over the next three years, starting from next April as part of ACE’s new National Portfolio.

It described the two organisations as being significant for visual arts and theatre, with national and international reputations of producing high quality art and bringing revenue to the county.

Money for Pallant House and CFT is part of the council’s new funding system and ten-year plan for supporting the arts. Because of government cuts, the council said fewer organisations would receive funding, and aim to give money to organisations which would ‘get great art to even more people and work collaboratively to make the most of the available funds’.

It said Pallant House excelled in developing artists and audiences who consider themselves marginalised and that funding would support its programme which would include contemporary exhibitions and commissioning new work, as well its outreach and education work. The council said it would fund the flagship CFT to help it further its talent development and learning education and participation activities.

The council’s south east regional chairman Caroline Collier said: “The new national portfolio of organisations, coupled with our other funding programmes, will ensure that the Arts Council retains its promise to deliver great art for everyone.