We are investing £246,000 from our Strategic Touring fund in two projects that will take great arts and culture to more people across the country.
We are investing £246,000 from our Strategic Touring fund in two projects that will take great arts and culture to more people across the country.
The money will support the East Midlands Caribbean Carnival Network (EMCCAN) and Leicester-based charity The Spark Arts for Children to create memorable artistic events for people to enjoy in their local communities.
Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England said: “Our Strategic Touring programme is designed to improve access to art and culture, helping to transform and enrich people’s lives. EMCCAN and The Spark Arts have two great tours lined up that will create opportunities for more people to take part in theatre and Caribbean carnivals where they live.”
About the projects
East Midlands Caribbean Carnival Network - £76,450
The East Midlands Caribbean Carnival Networks’ Flight of Fantasy tour will take professional Caribbean carnival to new audiences in the Midlands, North and South West. By touring performances, costumes and master classes more people will have opportunities to enjoy traditional Caribbean carnival in their local communities.
The Spark Arts for Children - £169,500
The Spark Arts for Children’s Among Ideal Friends tour will take theatre performances and workshops to libraries in Leicester, Leicestershire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Rutland. Inspired by books and stories for children, the tour will give families and schools new opportunities to take part in arts and culture at venues on their doorstep.
Read about the other successful applicants in this latest round of funding.
How our Strategic Touring programme is reaching more people
It’s been five years since the launch of our Strategic Touring programme.
We recently commissioned an external evaluation to help us assess the key achievements and challenges of the programme, and work out how we can get even more impact out of future investment.
The report shows that projects that received Strategic Touring funding have reached people all across England who don't usually engage with the arts:
91% of funding goes to touring outside London
60% of projects are targeted at people who haven’t engaged before
Taking art from the Midlands on tour
Nottingham Playhouse and Warwickshire based company Motionhouse both produced tours supported by our Strategic Touring programme.
Captive by Motionhouse blends dance and aerial performance in an exciting and emotionally charged outdoor show. The production toured to towns and cities across the country where people are least engaged with arts and culture.
More than 25,000 people watched the production.
One audience member said: “Amazing! Great to see a local company doing such incredible, ground-breaking art worldwide.”
Nottingham Playhouse designed a micro-theatre to tour shows specially created for children and young people with autism and profound learning disabilities.
Using this portable micro-theatre Nottingham Playhouse took White Peacock and Wave by Gill Brigg to theatres and special schools across England.
“The company coming to us allowed students to access theatre who usually aren’t be able to do so,” said one teacher. “When can you come back?”
Read the full evaluation.