The Bluecoat last week welcomed news that it has secured funding for a three-year period, 2015-2018, from Arts Council England, confirming the organisation’s status as part of the National Portfolio of major arts companies throughout England.
The Arts Council describes National Portfolio Organisations as those “reflecting the real quality and excellence of the arts in England”. Such organisations are charged with ensuring that “ambition, artistic exploration and pioneering spirit are kept alive, that great work can continue, that inspirational leadership is developed and supported”.
Chief Executive of the Bluecoat, Mary Cloake commented: “This represents a great vote of confidence in the Bluecoat. It will enable us to create some remarkable experiences for the people of Liverpool and embark on an ambitious new programme: making excellent and challenging artistic work accessible to the widest possible audience, whilst fostering artists in their development.”
She added: “We are pleased to note the on-going support of Liverpool City Council to the Bluecoat, which has been instrumental in helping us to secure this substantial grant from Arts Council England. The Bluecoat has been an arts centre since 1907, and we are also delighted to see the very particular contribution of arts centres to the national ecology of the arts in England has been acknowledged in this round of funding decisions.”
Art in Liverpool are thrilled to hear this news, and we look forward to many more incredible exhibitions from one of our favourite local galleries.