News that museums and art galleries in and around Newcastle are to benefit from a boost of around £10m over the next three years has been welcomed with delight.
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums is to receive more than £3.3m a year for three years thanks to a successful funding application to the Arts Council. And the knock-on effect of the award will bring benefits to visitors through more events and exhibitions as well as address inequalities to help those who might normally miss out.
The money is National Portfolio Organisation funding for 2023-26 and following the announcement of the award, TWAM director Keith Merrin welcomed the timely boost as the cost of living crisis bites. The total received each of the three years will be £3,354,648.
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He said: “It is great news that we have been awarded NPO funding. At a time when our communities are facing one of the toughest periods in history following the pandemic and amidst the cost-of-living crisis, it is important that we can continue to deliver a high quality, good value museum service for all of our audiences."
He added: "This will support our plans in developing opportunities for everyone to engage with the rich variety of culture we have on offer in the North East.” TWAM manages nine galleries, museums and heritage sites including Great North Museum: Hancock; Laing Art Gallery - which is currently hosting the Lindisfarne Gospels; Hatton Gallery and Discovery Museum in Newcastle.
They are much-loved city institutions and long-time family favourites, all having been established between 1829 and 1934. Other TWAM venues are Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead and - in North Tyneside - Stephenson Steam Railway and Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum.
These will benefit too from the money and the plans which over the upcoming three years include strenghthening TWAM's creative position in the North East and building its wider reputation. Central to that will be working with local communities and in partnership with other organisations.
A spokesperson said: "TWAM will continue to develop ambitious projects including events and exhibitions which put North East England in the national spotlight and a primary focus will be on tackling inequality, ensuring there are no barriers to participation."
The annual available budget for NPOs is £446m and this time the Arts Council received more than 1,700 NPO applications from museums and cultural organisations across the country - more than double the number it currently funds.
The awards follow a recent £24,980 grant to TWAM from the Peter Sowerby Foundation to support arts and heritage activities for older people in residential and clinical care. North East venues are always in need of support and anyone wanting to make a donation to TWAM can do so here.
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