Following on from the exciting news that we’ll be working with Greenham Common Trust to develop a new arts facility at Greenham Business Park in 2018, today we’ve found out that we’ve been awarded additional funding to support the activities at 101.
In 2014 we launched 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Centre on Greenham Business Park. Since then it has become an integral facility in supporting artists to create new and ambitious outdoor performances. Supported by Greenham Common Trust and Arts Council England, some of these have been performed locally with others touring to UK festivals as well as abroad to international audiences.
Having firmly establishing its name and garnering a reputation for supporting a wide range of outdoor artists, Arts Council England today announced £747,250 of funding from its Ambition for Excellence programme, to support the future development of 101.
The funding will be spread over the next three years and will enable us to establish 101 as an International Innovation Hub. Artists and companies who will be resident at the Creation Centre will be supported to create new performances by taking risks and daring to work in new ways. Some of these performances may over time be performed in Newbury with local people often getting chance to see these ahead of international tours.
Our co-directors Katy Griffiths and Grant Brisland told local press today, “this is terrific news! The support of Arts Council England and Greenham Common Trust has put 101 on the map. It has proven to be an incredibly vital facility for hundreds of artists over the last few years and this funding will enable us to make a greater national impact.”
Sitting adjacent to what will be the new arts facility at Greenham Business Park, that is due to open in 2018, 101 will be further developed with the support of Greenham Common Trust (GCT). Chris Boulton, chief executive of GCT, said “with this funding from Arts Council England secured we will invest over £200,000 at 101 and continuing to work with the Corn Exchange to help build an innovative creative community on the business park”.
Hedley Swain, Area Director South East for Arts Council England, said “101 already has an important role in the UK’s outdoor arts scene, providing space for artists to create and develop their work. We’re excited to be able to support the ambitious plans that the Corn Exchange has for 101, not just in extending the space that is available to artists, but also its support for talent through residencies, development programmes and sharing best practice.”
Alison Clark, national combined arts director at Arts Council England, added “We are delighted to support this important project through the Ambition for Excellence funding programme. The residency, training and talent work will make a long term and significant impact on the arts and the artists that appear in festivals and outdoor events across the country and internationally, ultimately reaching very large numbers of new and existing audiences. It’s exactly the kind of game-changing idea that we want to invest through the programme. This is a key aim for Arts Council England and we look forward to working with the Corn Exchange, 101, and Greenham Common Trust as the project develops.”
Exciting, huh?!
As the project progresses we’ll be sure to keep everyone informed, but you can bet your bottom dollar that it means Newbury is going to be the home of some of the most innovative and exciting outdoor artists and companies over the next few years and they’re likely to be sharing their work with us before anyone else. It just goes to prove, you don’t have to live under the bright lights of bigger cities to have access to a national (and ever increasing international!) arts organisation!