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Arts Council ups Riverfront budget
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Good news for Newport as The Riverfront’s Arts Council funding will be more than doubled for 2011.
Subject to confirmation in February of the Welsh Assembly Government’s draft budget, a new portfolio of 71 organisations will share funding of just over £24.25million in 2011/12 and The Riverfront has been awarded £125,000 of that, an increase of £65,000 on 2010.
With this funding, The Riverfront can build on the development of audiences for a range of work that is unique to Wales and essential viewing for the people of Newport, increasing attendances and attracting more audiences from outside the City.
The Riverfront will be able to continue to develop as the hub of performing arts creativity in Newport, initiating and supporting exciting projects that build audiences, offer professional development opportunities to artists and continue to build a creative base for Newport.
The Riverfront will continue to build long term relationships with locally and UK-wide significant companies. There will be more development work with companies with whom The Riverfront has short term or more ad hoc relationships with and continued and additional support for emerging artists and companies. In the medium term, the increase will allow The Riverfront to venture into fully-fledged production of performances aimed at engaging young people with live events.
“When The Riverfront opened just six years ago, it was an iconic building with great spaces to create and present work within, and ambitious plans to develop its programme and audiences. Six years later, when it has exceeded expectations in terms of numbers of people through the building by 49% and contributed hugely to this auspicious Ryder Cup year, we are delighted that the Arts Council has made such a positive decision in relation to our future funding. Their support, on top of impressive levels of commitment from Newport City Council, will enable us to contribute further to the cultural and economic life of the City and to create more for the audiences of Newport and beyond.” Nicolas Young, Theatre and Arts Director at The Riverfront.
The benefits include ensuring a broad range and variety of work is available for the people of Newport. These developments will go alongside the continuation of comedy, music, family-friendly, film and other strands of the professional programme, as well as on-going development of opportunities to participate in activities and make use of the facilities.
Increasing the amount of work produced in Newport will have knock-on effects both on the financial viability of The Riverfront through increased use of the café and other ancillary features of the Centre, and ultimately on the City as a whole as it encourages arts practitioners to live and work here.
Councillor Mike Hamilton, cabinet member for continuing learning and leisure
"This is a wonderful announcement by Arts Council Wales which will enable The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre to continue and build on the excellent work that is done there. It is a tribute to the Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, director Nicolas Young and all the staff. People from across the city and beyond, from young musicians and emerging artists to ballet lovers and film fans, have benefited from all that it has to offer."
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Riverfront Newport
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010 |
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