The Cumbria Network receives last ever culture grant from Northern Rock Foundation

The Cumbria Network has received funding through Arts Council England and The Northern Rock Foundation to continue to support the arts community in Cumbria over the next three years.

Historically, the Network will be the last ever application to be awarded a grant under the Northern Rock Foundation’s Culture and Heritage programme, which will no longer continue due to the bank’s current financial situation.

Network Director Kate Brundrett commented ‘I’m delighted that we have received support for our activities for the foreseeable future, the Network has been a huge success in bringing Cumbria’s artistic community together and to be the last ever grant from the Northern Rock Foundation certainly marks an historical point.

We hope that the funding will allow us to develop a sustained infrastructure for practitioners in Cumbria – so many good initiatives have been short lived and we have been working hard to make the Network a lasting resource for artists, designers and makers..’

The Cumbria Network was set up in 2004 to support artists, and now has over 600 subscribers in and around the county. It provides information and resources, holds events and workshops and sends a weekly update of opportunities and news. It’s most successful initiative has been in creating local networks of artists known as HUBs, which organise their own events and exchanges as well as peer support to members.

Future plans are to further develop and support the HUBs and their activities, to offer more workshops to develop professional practice, and of course more networking opportunities. A new website offers members their own profile page to promote their work and a forum space. It has been designed as a social networking website similar to Myspace and Facebook and is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK for an arts community.

2008 will also see the introduction of a paying membership scheme to help offset some of the organisation’s running costs. Kate says ‘Because the future of grant funding is so uncertain we have to look at alternative ways of generating income. The membership scheme is the start of making sure we have a Network beyond funding agendas, and a better way for artists to network and support each other.’

The Network also receives continued support from Cumbria County Council and Local Arts Development Agencies.

Image: Network members and friends on a visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park

The Northern Rock Foundation is supported through an annual donation of 5% of Northern Rock plc’s pre-tax profits. To date, the plc has donated £190 million to the Foundation, making it one of the UK’s most generous corporate donors.

Penny Vowles, programme manager at the Northern Rock Foundation, states that the Foundation are meeting with other funders in London to try and help support art activities in the North East and Cumbria, and supporting organisations as a knowledge base.

More information can be found at: www.nr-foundation.org.uk/