When Arts Council England revealed its funding plans for the next three years last week, much was made of its intention to ‘level up’ and divert funds away from London to places historically underserved by investment in the creative industries. In the Bristol area, 24 organisations are set to receive a total of £10m in annual funding over the next three years - an increase of £4m from the annual awards made between 2018 and 2022.
But although there’s plenty to celebrate in the breadth and scope of those organisations that received grants, some artists feel that there are also significant gaps in which disciplines get recognised. Bristol-based performing arts company Impermanence requested 75,000 to help deliver a diverse dance programme in the city. It was unsuccessful but told Bristol Live that despite putting a tremendous amount of time and effort into its application, it didn't come as a huge surprise.
“Dance in the south west is chronically underfunded. It just feels like the support isn’t there,” said the company's co-director Roseanna Anderson. She notes that in total, the region received £1,435,890 for dance, proportionally far less than the south east, which receives just two per cent more overall funding but has £4,790,524 allocated to dance.
