Member Article

NE private sector gives £11m to arts

The total amount of private support for the arts in the North East has grown to over £11 million according to figures published today by Arts & Business. This increase is more than a 50% rise on the previous year’s figure of £7.3 million. In the top ten recipients for 2004/5 were Bruvvers Theatre Company whose new space in the Ouseburn Valley opens soon; Live Theatre who are currently undergoing expansion; The Tyneside Cinema which closed its doors in Newcastle for a renovation two weeks ago and the Theatre Royal Newcastle whose RSC Season fifteen years ago was the catalyst that led to the creation of The Sponsors Club for Arts & Business.

Adam Lopardo, Regional Director of The Sponsors Club for Arts & Business comments: “Today I celebrate my birthday with the fantastic news that the North East sees its highest ever private investment in the arts. I’m delighted the artists and arts organisations in the North East continue to meet with such striking success and raise such a significant amount of private investment. “Whilst we can rightfully be proud of these figures we should not think the work is over. We must ensure that business continues to support the arts and see the effect the arts has on individuals, communities and the economy in the North East. We must also ensure the arts have the right skills and knowledge to secure increased private sector investment to help programme events in those buildings.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .