Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, has confirmed the amount of funding made to North West Durham by the Arts Council.
The Arts Council England is a non-departmental public body and forms part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is Government-funded and aims to promotes performing, visual and literary arts in England. In March, they announced the ‘Art Council’s Emergency Response Fund’, which was set up to help support artists, museums and libraries as they deal with coronavirus and helping them plan for the future. So far, they have awarded £64.8 million in grants to organisations across the country. These grants have been funded by the Government and the National Lottery.
In North West Durham, Jack Drum Arts have been awarded £16,000. Jack Drum are a local business (based in Crook) that provides cultural opportunities for people throughout County Durham – they run workshops, courses, events and shows, working work with people of all ages, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to ensure that everyone has access to the arts in a way that promotes learning and self-expression, with a big focus on the community. Richard has previously hosted a ministerial visit at Jack Drum Arts (read about this here). You can visit their website and find out more about the work they do here.
Ushaw College has been awarded £35,000. Ushaw College, based near Ushaw Moor, is a former Catholic seminary that worked with Durham University and trained priests until 2011. In 2014 it reopened as a visitor attraction and now receives over 50,000 visitors a year. Durham University continues to use parts of the building for student teaching and there are plans for an international research library to be placed in the college to enable students from across the world to work on the collections held there, at Durham University and at Durham Cathedral. The college also hosts musical events and lectures. Richard has previously visited Ushaw College to meet with Peter Seed, the Director for Operations at Ushaw College, and Jak Abrahams, the Political Affairs Manager at BASC, a conservation association. You can read about this here. You can visit Ushaw College’s website here.
Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band have been awarded £3194. Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band are a 2nd Section band based in Esh Winning. They have their own rehearsal premises, as well as their own van for transporting equipment, and practice twice a week. They have engagements throughout summer and December, including playing at events such as the Durham Miners’ Gala, and also take part in competitions throughout the year. They even have an exchange programme with a Swiss band and have social evenings throughout the year. They have been hosting virtual concerts throughout the coronavirus pandemic. You can find their website here.
Commenting, Richard said ‘It is fantastic that three such brilliant organisations in North West Durham have received so much in funding – it will go a really long way in helping them cope with the current pandemic, especially as we start to see restrictions lifted and can look towards the future. All these organisations do such great work for the community and it is so important that we give them the support they deserve.’
To hear more about the work that Richard is doing for North West Durham, you can sign up here or input your details in the form on this page.