In light of recent Government announcements for the Art Council to cut its support at South Hill Park Arts Centre, Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, visited the Arts Centre in Bracknell last Friday to discuss new ideas for future funding.

From April 2012, the Arts Council’s suite of funding programmes will change. This is in response to a challenging economic backdrop of a 29.6% cut to our grant in aid for 2011-15, the predicted increase in Lottery income over the same period and the development of a strategic framework for the arts over 10 years to achieve great art for everyone.

South Hill Park is a large multi-disciplinary arts centre that presents and commissions contemporary mixed arts and makes a particular contribution to culturally diverse theatre. It also offers courses and programs across, art, music, drama, dance, digital media, and literature.

As a national portfolio organisation, South Hill Park Arts Centre has been offered funding of £100,000 in 2012/2013, £0 in 2013/2014 and £0 in 2014/2015. This is subject to a funding agreement being agreed.

Dr Lee commented: “I was delighted to visit South Hill Park to discuss ideas for future funding. I strongly admired recent work on the grounds. ”