Entertainment: Halifax's Square Chapel and Northern Broadsides get Arts Council funding despite cuts elsewhere

Square Chapel Arts Centre – which was saved after going into administration in 2020 – will receive nearly half a million pounds over the next three years.

It plans to use the money to develop the venue so it can support disabled and neurodiverse people and bring a bigger range of creative, arts and cultural events to Halifax.

It also plans to support offer the borough’s cultural organisations space, resources and advice to sustain their creative practice.

“Having saved Square Chapel from administration during a worldwide pandemic, this investment gives us the stability we need to rebuild over the next three years,” said David Jenkins, Managing Director at Square Chapel.

"As well as a commitment to increasing access to the arts, we’ll develop local people and talent to lead and shape the creative and cultural programme we run.

"As a result, Square Chapel will be a relevant, community-focused creative hub for the people of Calderdale and beyond, long into the future.”

Northern Broadsides has retained its Arts Council funding, receiving £779,952 over three years, which it says will help it to continue despite tough times.

But the company did not receive any extra money for a proposed project aimed at developing the next generation of voices from across the North.

Artistic Director and CEO Laurie Sansom said: “We are pleased to have received continued investment from Arts Council England.

"After 12 years of stand still grants for Broadsides, we were hoping to receive an uplift that would have helped secure our future as a mid-scale touring company and allowed us to develop our vision to reach more young people across the region.

"We will now seek to work with our partners to explore how we can still deliver part of this crucial project.

"We are still one of many cultural organisations who face an uncertain future particularly as touring has becomes ever more challenging, and look forward to hearing what further support there might be for this struggling part of the theatre ecology.

"We are most grateful to our Friends and audiences up and down the country who give us their fierce loyalty and support, and look forward to seeing them on the road when we tour Quality Street in 2023.”

Public money from the Government, as well as from the National Lottery, is used by Arts Council England to support arts and culture across the nation.

An overhaul to move millions of pounds from central London to other parts of the country has seen some of the capital’s institutions losing some of their subsidies.

Northern Broadsides said while the announcement had been positive for them, they send their “thoughts and love to those who must come to terms with great change today”.

Arts Council England is also continuing its support for creative writing charity Arvon Foundation, which has moved its headquarters to Lumb Bank near Hebden Bridge – the former home of Ted Hughes.

As well as receiving investment for its courses, the retreat for writers and poets recently received an Arts Council capital grant to help make the 18th century millowner’s house more accessible.