AN ARTS charity will continue to bring live performances and exhibitions to rural communities across Dorset thanks to a vital funding boost from the council.
Artsreach, a not-for-profit travelling arts organisation, is celebrating a successful bid for funding from the Dorset Council Organisational Revenue Support Fund totalling £125,841.
The grant will enable the charity to continue its art tours for the next three years, providing people with access to affordable, professional live performances and creative arts projects.
Artsreach co-director Yvonne Gallimore said: “The continued support Dorset Council is invaluable in enabling us continue to programme our much loved variety of quality live performances, reaching out to the heart of rural communities across the county.
"Our volunteer promoters work tirelessly to make these events happen all year round, and this funding recognises both the work they do, and the quality of the work Artsreach tours, and has toured over the last 30 years.”
The Artsreach programme, established in 1990, operates through a network of roughly 50 volunteer promoting groups and co-ordinates around 150 high quality professional events every year, usually in village halls and often in rurally isolated communities across Dorset.
The Artsreach programme also plays a key role in generating much needed income for vital community assets such as village halls, with over £33,000 retained by rural communities through Artsreach activity in 2019/20.
The latest Dorset Council grant replaces all historic funding agreements to cultural organisations, originally awarded by former district councils.
At a level of £41,947 annually for the next three years, the grant to Artsreach reflects a similar level to previous agreements.
Cllr Jill Haynes, Dorset Council portfolio holder for Customer Services and Communities said: “I’m delighted Dorset Council will continue to support Artsreach - I know the work of the organisation is greatly appreciated and helps bring many great performances and events into our rural communities.
“As a council we’re committed to supporting Dorset’s cultural and community organisations, despite increasing pressures on our budgets, as we know they play such a key part in the health, wellbeing and learning of so many people.”
When asked what Artsreach means to them, audience members said: “Artsreach brings entertainment to places that would otherwise have little or nothing of the arts and is especially valuable for those without transport," and that “Artsreach provides a vital lift to community life.”
To find out more about Artsreach visit www.artsreach.co.uk
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