Arts groups benefit from council’s cash pot

Wakefield Council’s Creative Partners Grant scheme is supporting seven organisations in 2012/13 following a competitive bidding process.

One of the aims of the council is to spend money to boost jobs.

The competitive bidding process was divided into two categories - Raising Aspirations and Make it Happen.

In the Raising Aspirations category, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park received £200,000 and Wakefield Theatre Royal for £155,000.

The rest of the £460,000 fund was awarded to five organisations in the Make it Happen category, including for the first time St George’s Community Centre at Lupset, which received a £10,000 award towards the centre’s work providing services and encouraging regeneration.

The other beneficiaries are: Art House (£25,000), Faceless (£25,0000), One to One Media Productions (£12,000) and Pennine Camphill (£34,000).

Art House is an artist development organisation which provides support for artists, both disabled and non-disabled.

Pennine Camphill is a specialist residential college which provides learning opportunities for vulnerable people at its 56-acre site in Wakefield. It has a community farm and riding for the disabled.

Faceless offers a range of community arts activities and has a programme of street theatre performances.

Councillor David Dagger, the council’s cabinet Member for culture, said: “I am proud that even in tough times we can continue to support arts organisations.

“They play a big role in the quality of life in this district, boosting community activity and creating opportunities to learn new skills and experiences for people across the district.

“I look forward to all the organisations we are supporting next year raising aspirations and making things happen in communities across the district.”