Cultural organisations across Greater Manchester have received an £8.6 million investment from the Greater Manchester Culture Fund.
35 organisations across the city-region, including the Arc Centre at Stockport’s Hat Works, have received grants from the GMCA-backed fund to continue providing cultural experiences and opportunities for local people.
Alison McKenzie-Folan, Chief Executive Lead for the Culture portfolio, praised the high quality of applications to the Greater Manchester Culture Fund. She said:
The variety of organisations represented here is a real indication of the rich cultural offer of Greater Manchester. I’m particularly pleased to see our excellent literary scene represented among this year’s recipients, which hail from all 10 boroughs of our city-region.”
“The Greater Manchester Culture Fund is about celebrating our world-leading cultural heritage, and supporting the historic institutions and grassroots community groups helping everyone to enjoy the arts, engage with local history, and develop new skills and talents.”
For the first time, literature and carnival arts organisations are being supported by the funding, in addition to museums, heritage, theatre, film, dance, music and visual arts. The amount invested by the Greater Manchester Culture Fund in 2020 represents an increase of almost 25% compared with the 2018 funding.
The Greater Manchester Culture Fund aims to support organisations which can demonstrate how the contribute to recognition of the region, improve skills and deliver creative education, help build inclusive communities and deliver positive contributions to the health and well-being of local residents. The cultural sector contributes £1.4 billion to the economy each year.
Arc is a creative arts organisation based in Stockport, specialising in workshops, arts for wellbeing and community development.