Stockton Council has today welcomed news from the Arts Council that the internationally renowned Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) is to continue to receive support from the new National Portfolio funding programme.
The announcement, made this morning, confirmed £200,000 of funding for 2012-13, £204,800 for 2013-14 and £210,125 for 2014-15. More than 1,300 organisations applied to the Arts Council for the National Portfolio funding which replaces the former ‘regularly funded organisations’ programme.
Reuben Kench, Stockton Council’s Head of Culture and Leisure, said: “We are delighted to receive the news from the Arts Council. The continuation in funding is recognition of Stockton International Riverside Festival and the Community Carnival’s key role in delivering great art for everyone across the Borough and the wider Tees Valley. The Arts Council recognised SIRF as an event of ‘exemplary good practice’.
“SIRF is unique in the North East with a strong international reputation and we will build on the already innovative and spectacular programme and our long term partnership with Arts Council England as we look towards its 25th anniversary next year.”
The Arts Council today announced an overall investment in Stockton of £604,000 to support its cultural programme in 2012-13 which also heralded good news for two of the Borough’s arts and music organisations.
Both Tees Music Alliance, which organises The Stockton Weekender (formerly Stockton Riverside Fringe Festival) and ARC will continue to be funded by the Arts Council.
Reuben Kench added: “The news about both Tees Music Alliance and ARC is really positive as it reaffirms the faith in Stockton Borough’s track record and future vision as a place for offering events and arts and culture for a whole range of audiences.”
Paul Burns, Director of Tees Music Alliance, said: “It’s fantastic for TMA to receive this ongoing commitment from ACE after months of uncertainty. We’ll be doing everything we can to ensure we continue to support our locally based artists to the full.
“It’s important to remember though that these continue to be challenging times – so this is more of a beginning than the end of a process; the coming years will involve a lot of hard work.”
Annabel Turpin, Director of ARC, said: “In very challenging times for the arts sector nationally, we are delighted that ARC has been included in the Arts Council’s National Portfolio programme. From 2012 we will receive an increase of 27% in our annual funding, which will to enable us to support local professional performing artists as well as continue to provide arts and entertainment for Stockton and the Tees Valley.
“We see this as a huge vote of confidence in ARC, and given the level of investment also offered to SIRF and TMA, true recognition of the strength and importance of arts and culture in this area.”
Stockton International Riverside Festival 2011 runs from August 4-7 when Stockton will be transformed into a vast performance space for both homegrown and international street theatre artists.
