South Shropshire MP Philip Dunne has welcomed new funding for arts and cultural organisations across the country, including in the Ludlow Constituency.

Over £357,000 has been awarded to two local organisations in South Shropshire: Arts Alive, organisers of Flicks in the Sticks and Pentabus Arts, an independent theatre company in Bromfield – providing long-term investment in local talent and supporting the next generation of creators, performers and artists.

By targeting the Arts Council’s Levelling Up places, 78 designated towns and cities from Stoke to Slough and Gloucester to Wigan will receive £130 million of funding over the next three years. This is a 95 per cent increase in investment in these areas and will support new organisations, making sure that communities across the county benefit from investment in culture and the jobs which it brings.

The funding has boosted investment in places where historically public investment in creativity and culture has been underserved, like rural South Shropshire.

Commenting, Philip Dunne said:

“The £357,000 being delivered by the Government through Arts Council England is a major boost for these local organisations in South Shropshire helping to bring cultural events to village halls and other venues in rural areas.

“My congratulations to the teams at Arts Alive and Pentabus who are stalwarts of our local culture in South Shropshire. This funding round has seen central Government investment in culture and arts double since the last round from 2018-2022.”