Cheshire East Council welcomes support for cultural and creative sector

Cheshire East Council has welcomed the latest announcement from The Arts Council as it launches a £160m emergency response package due to the Covid-19 crisis.

The Arts Council’s funding package is made up of £20m available to individuals, £50m to organisations outside of the national portfolio and £90m to their national portfolio organisations (NPOs).  

Funding for individuals seeks to support creative practitioners whose main work is focused on the following art forms and disciplines:

· Music;

· Theatre;

· Dance;

· Visual arts;

· Literature;

· Combined arts;

· Museums; and

· Libraries (activity that helps deliver the Universal Library Offers).

The funding is also available for organisations with a track record in publicly funded culture.

Councillor Nick Mannion, portfolio holder with responsibility for culture, said: “We very much welcome the support offered to the cultural and creative sector by Arts Council England in their funding announcement – I would urge anyone who feels they are eligible to apply.

“Cheshire East Council recognises the value of its cultural and creative sector to both the borough and the economy and is working to keep businesses, organisations and individuals informed of the support available during the Covid-19 crisis.”

There are two rounds for individuals and organisations to apply – just once – to the funding schemes;

• Round one: opens 9 April with a deadline of 16 April 2020
• Round two: opens 16 April with a deadline of 30 April 2020.

Further details, advice and guidance for individuals and organisations looking to apply for the emergency response package is available at artscouncil.org.uk/covid19

Details for NPOs will be available on the Arts Council website soon.