£3m Arts Council cash to support projects across Teesside is announced

Arts on Teesside have been handed more than £3m over three years under new grants announced today.

Arts Council England has confirmed its funding for 2015/18, totalling £340m for 670 organisations across the UK.

The body will continue to support Middlesbrough art gallery mima and Stockton arts centre ARC, while cash will also be given to Stockton Council for arts projects.

Centre Square gallery mima will get £1.5m over the three financial years - £510,757 per year subject to a funding agreement and business plan.

ARC will get £918,275 - £306,092 per year while Stockton Council will receive £604,068 - £201,356 per year.

For all three organisations, the support is equal to the grant received over the preceeding three years - but represents a 1.5% cut in real terms after inflation is taken into account.

Teesside University, which recently took over operating the former council-run gallery, oversaw the funding bid.

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Gallery: Previous exhibits at Mima

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Teesside University’s chief operating officer Malcolm Page said: “mima is an extremely valuable asset to the region as a national and international destination and as such we need to ensure it thrives and continues to offer a fantastic visitor experience.

“The support from Arts Council England is integral to this goal so we are delighted with the decision by a key funding partner.”

The transfer to Teesside Univeristy was part of cost-cutting attempts by Middlesbrough Council.

The authority had been paying £900,000 a year to support the gallery but this is to fall to £500,000 a year for the next five years.

Councillor Charlie Rooney, executive member for regeneration at Middlesbrough Council, which will continue to be a key strategic partner and funder of mima following the transition, said: “This is very good news, and further recognition of mima as a cultural asset of regional, national and international significance.”

Mima is currently looking to appoint a new £70,000-a-year director after the departure of former head Kate Brindley.

Mark Robinson, mima’s interim director, said: “This is really good news for mima’s future as part of Teesside University.

“This is an exciting time for the gallery, and with this support, we can build on the great work mima has done over the past three years, and continue to bring national and international artists’ work to Middlesbrough, develop our support for regional artists through the mima Visual Art Network, and engage schools, families, young people and local communities with what we do.”