Newark and Sherwood District Council scheme aims to continue opening doors to creativity after Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation extension application agreed

An application for another year of funding — totalling £309,000 — has been agreed for submission, to allow a range of creative activities to continue.

Newark and Sherwood District Council’s heritage and culture business unit became part of the prestigious Art Council England National Portfolio Organisation scheme in 2023.

This appointment came with a £309,000-a-year budget from 2023-24 to 2025-26, which has allowed the council to provide a wide range of schemes to people across the district.

The lead officer in the project said: “This funding was a total of £927,000 over a three year period, and has enabled us to expand our outreach work, target new and diverse audiences — particularly from under-represented groups — and to support creatives and freelancers.”

This has included getting young people involved in “supporting their local cultural scene” as Creative Influencers, through creating content for the business unit, volunteering at events, as well as visiting other theatres and institutions; sessions with pupils and touring shows to schools; delivering workshops and music sessions to promote mental and physical wellbeing; exhibitions showcasing and sharing the district’s heritage and culture; and welcoming artists in residence to the National Civil War Centre.

Arts Council England opened an additional year of funding up to existing National Portfolio Organisations in November, and the district council’s cabinet has voted to approve the full extension application for another £309,000 grant in 2026-27 to continue to fund the projects.

£137,000 of the grant would fund staff, while the remaining £172,000 will cover the costs of running the project.