Bristol arts groups miss out on funding

Show of Strength, based in Bedminster, is one of 15 arts organisations that will miss thousands of pounds after the council decided to change the way it dishes out arts grants.

The ruling Labour cabinet approved the £735,000 arts, festivals and events investment budget last night.

Show of Strength has staged a series of acclaimed shows, and Mamma Mia! writer Catherine Johnson, who lives in Leigh Woods, worked with the company on this year's street theatre production Trade It?

The authority has funded Show of Strength since 1987, but has pulled the £11,700 annual handout, saying it no longer meets its criteria. The only concession, was that funding will end at the end of the financial year, rather than this September.

Another charity to lose its funding is Trinity Community Arts, which runs the Trinity Road church venue in Lawrence Hill. It had applied for £80,000 over three years.

Both groups criticised the application process and accused the council of failing in its claim to make “open and transparent” decisions.

Chairman of Show of Strength, Diane Kershaw, said: “It's a great shame we had to resort to the Freedom of Information Act to find out why we weren't approved and the reasons for it.”

“We have been very efficient but have a very large influence, nationally, internationally and regionally.

“The report says we may be able to apply for project funding but that's only £10,000 for one year, and for a small company you would spend all your time looking for other funding.

Emma Harvey of Trinity Community Arts said: “Trinity staff and volunteers strive to develop the Trinity Centre as a creative resource, and preserve a grade II* listed historic landmark and one of the last independent music venues in the country. “We work hard to build bridges and bring people together through the arts, not just in Lawrence Hill but in our local communities of Easton and St Paul's, across Bristol and the region.”

Council leader Helen Holland accepted the criticism of the way the application process had been handled and said lessons would be learned.

Councillor Rosalie Walker, executive member for culture and healthy communities, said: “We had £1.5 million worth of applications come into this council for a budget of £735,000. It's very sad when some groups don't get what they like, and if we had more money they would do.

“We have been as fair as we possibly can.”