A TOTAL of 13 out of 23 district organisations have benefitted from the latest round of Bradford Council arts and culture funding.

Bradford Council has announced funding allocations to district organisations from its Arts and Cultural Investment Fund between 2015 and 2018.

The organisations to successfully gain cash were Kala Sangam, Artworks, Hive, Friends of Bradford Youth Players, Bradford Community Broadcasting (BCB) and Mind the Gap.

Other organisations to benefit from the fund for the first time were Ilkley Film Festival, Purple Patch Arts, South Square, Saltaire Inspired, Dance United, Common Wealth Theatre and Freedom Studios.

Organisations can bid for funding from Bradford Council’s Arts and Cultural Investment Fund every three years.

This round of funding will come into force from April next year.

A total of £170,000 will be allocated to the projects for the 2015/16 financial year.

These bids are then assessed and scored against the published guidelines which correspond with the district’s Cultural Strategy.

One of the projects to benefit is BCB. The community radio station, based in Rawson Road, Bradford, have been given £28,000 a year over the next three years by the fund.

Mary Dowson, BCB director, said: "We are delighted to receive the award, as it's really important in these difficult times for Bradford people to have the opportunity to take part in cultural activities."

Meanwhile, Artworks, based in Great Horton Road, Bradford, which deliver arts projects across the community, has been allocated £23,500 each year for the next three years, starting in April next year.

Susie Russell, Artworks co-director, said: "It's fantastic that we have been allocated this funding.

"It will continue to let us work with communities across Bradford and let us continue to change lives."

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's executive member for employment, skills and culture, said: “I’m pleased we have been able to fund these organisations that produce great work in the district.

"They contribute to Bradford’s cultural and economic aspirations.

“Due to Government cuts and like a lot of council programmes, the overall fund has had to be cut back, in this case by ten per cent, therefore having strict a criteria for assessment was vital to ensure maximum value.

“There are seven new organisations that have received funding and I would like to congratulate them on their successful bids. "Unfortunately, some organisations that have previously received money from this fund were not successful this time.”

 

One organisation which missed out on the cash says it now fears for its future.

Fabric, based at Church Bank House, Little Germany, which was set up in 2001, will see its council funding cut from March 31 next year.

Gideon Seymour, Fabric director, who is also the group's only employee, said: "We're disappointed.

"We can't continue in our current guise.

"We are a small charity, with only one member of staff and we rely on volunteers to run our services.

"We will now try and find a way to try to fill the gap.

"I'm now going to see if Fabric can be run as a voluntary organisation."

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