Artists in North Tyneside are urging council chiefs to support local creatives with improved access to funding.
North Tyneside Council launched a preliminary consultation with 50 artists and those employed in the culture or heritage sector to identify the issues with the regional culture economy. Its findings were presented to the local authority's culture and leisure sub-committee.
A lack of networking between artistic and cultural communities, too little focus on “super-localism”, and too little support in accessing funding to artistic or cultural projects were highlighted as challenges. Whilst councillors were keen to support artistic development in the borough, they recognised the authority could not finance many projects owing to financial restraints.
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The consultation, which is drawing up a cultural strategy for the borough, acknowledged artistic funding or investment would need to come from outside bodies such as the Arts Council or the North of the Tyne Combined Authority.
Steve Bishop, head of culture at North Tyneside Council, said: “One of the things we need to do is encourage more bids to the Arts Council that are likely to be successful. We have one of the lowest rates of success for investment from the Arts Council in the region and that is not because we are not good at doing things, but because we have to put the bids in”.
Steve went on to say that the North of the Tyne Combined Authority may be a likely source of artistic funding as North Tyneside Council has previously received money from the body to boost the culture and tourism sector. Further discussions are ongoing.
Catherine Hearn, an independent consultant supporting the consultation, informed the culture and leisure sub committee there were staff in the council who would be qualified and able to help projects and artists put bids forward and emphasised this as a need for better joined-up assistance for the cultural sector.
The Arts Council pledged £576.5m a year on supporting artistic and cultural activities and enterprises. Funds were also reserved to increase the range of people able to become part of the cultural sector.
A larger more detailed consultation is currently being organised.
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