Blackpool Illuminations, football museum and theatre group for disabled kids get thousands in levelling-up funding

THE Blackpool Illuminations, a museum dedicated to football and a theatre group for disabled kids are to be handed thousands of pounds in vital levelling- up funding. 

Arts Council England yesterday announced that they are among 990 organisations that will receive a share of £446million each year — as part of a long-term plan to spread cash around the country.

The shake-up relocates funding from central London. 

Losers include the English National Opera, which has seen its £12.6million core annual grant from Arts Council England cut, instead getting £17million over three years as part of a plan to relocate, with a new home in Manchester as one option.

Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley told The Sun it would ensure more people have access to high-quality art and culture — much of which is free — when people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. 

A record-breaking 1,730 applications were submitted for the 2023-26 investment programme, funded by the Government   and   National Lottery.

‘Bigger and better’

They include The National Football Museum in Manchester, which has been given £350,000 a year.

Director Tim Desmond said: “We are delighted. This will allow us to invest in Football Creates, which uses the unrivalled power of football to engage people and communities in creativity and improving wellbeing. A lot of people who come to us wouldn’t necessarily go to another museum. But they do come to us to explore what we are doing.”

The historic Blackpool Illuminations will also get £225,000 a year from the pot to expand its award-winning Lightpool Festival, which takes place in October every year.

Illuminations manager Richard Williams said: “We’re made up. We are hoping to engage artists to create new light-based art installations for our Lightpool Festival, an event separate to the illuminations that we want to make bigger and better each year. 

“We hope it will draw more people to Blackpool, where you can see these amazing exhibits first.”

The Historic Dockyard ­Chatham, in Kent, is set to get £249,508 per year.

Richard Morsley, chief executive of the trust running the dockyard, said they were “extremely grateful”.

He added: “The funding will allow us to take a strategic lead and champion the museum and cultural sector in areas where there is low cultural engagement.”

There will be also be a 20 per cent increase in organisations delivering creative and cultural activity for children and young people.

Leicester-based Bamboozle Theatre Company, which tours the UK offering shows designed to cater for youngsters with physical disabilities and autism, will receive £303,675 per year.

Bamboozle’s artistic director and chief executive officer Christopher Davies said: “It is so important that the audience we serve gets better access to the arts. 

‘Raises self-esteem’

“Often these children are left out, made to feel like they don’t belong, and they don’t get to enjoy these sorts of experiences that many of us take for granted.

“It raises self-esteem and gives young people a sense of worth and enjoyment.

“At Bamboozle, we are very lucky to work with a remarkable team — talented freelance actors and facilitators, a hard-working office team and a committed board of trustees, all of whom enable the highest level of work to be made for our audience.

“We are delighted that the work we do can continue through this support.”