Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) has been awarded funding of £500,000 per annum as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) as part of Arts Council England’s 2023-26 Investment Programme.
Established just eight years ago in 2014, this is the first time that the Winchester-based cultural charity has been awarded NPO status. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture in England, and one of the biggest investments it makes is through its National Portfolio Organisations, which deliver the mainstay of creative and cultural provision across the country. 1,730 arts and cultural institutions across England applied for this round of funding, ACE today announced that of these, 990 have been successful, with just 276 new organisations, including HCT, within that number.
Paul Sapwell, chief executive of Hampshire Cultural Trust, commented: ‘We are thrilled to have received this offer of £500,000 as a National Portfolio Organisation from Arts Council England and are hugely grateful for their support. This is a landmark day for Hampshire Cultural Trust and such an important part of our development as a young, cultural organisation. With this funding, we can not only focus on the three Arts Council priority places in Hampshire within our portfolio but can also continue to deliver cultural experiences that support wellbeing, happiness and health across the county, fulfilling our purpose of helping to change lives through culture.’
Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: ‘As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country. We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.’
Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England said: ‘We’re particularly pleased to be welcoming Hampshire Cultural Trust into the 2023-26 National Portfolio. The trust manages more than 20 venues across Hampshire, and our funding will support their social impact and delivery of activities for communities in three of our priority places – Gosport Museum and Art Gallery, Aldershot Military Museum, and the same town’s West End Centre, as well as the Forest Arts Centre in New Milton. As a result of our investment, more residents and visitors will enjoy greater access to cultural opportunities right on their doorstep.’
HCT’s application for funding was focused on expanding the organisation’s work in three of Arts Council England’s Priority Places – Gosport, Rushmoor and the New Forest – but the funding will also have a positive impact across the whole organisation. The charity will now work with Arts Council to agree the planned programme of activity that the funding will support, with the emphasis on widening engagement, diversifying audiences and establishing a sustainable cultural sector across the region.