Wiltshire Council confirms an increase in funding to its arts and heritage partners

Wiltshire Council is demonstrating it is committed to the delivery of culture in the county by agreeing to uplift each of its grants to arts and heritage partners by 10% in 2025/26.

Underpinned by its Cultural Strategy, the council wants to ensure the county, and its communities continue to benefit from the social and economic benefits that arts, heritage and culture can bring.

In being mindful of the pressures facing the arts, culture and heritage sector in the current climate, the council's uplift for 2025/26 will raise its funding in these areas to almost £379,000. The council funds four arts organisations across the county; Pound Arts in Corsham, Trowbridge Town Hall Arts, Wiltshire Creative in Salisbury and Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon, with each delivering a range of programmes including performances, and work within their local communities to provide access to creative opportunities. Funding also goes to Wiltshire Museum and Salisbury Museum.

Leader of Wiltshire Council and Cabinet Member for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, Cllr Richard Clewer said: As a council we recognise and value the importance of what the arts, culture and heritage sectors bring to the county. The benefits are felt not only in the economy and tourism but also support place shaping, helping to create vibrant communities and improve residents' health and wellbeing.

I am delighted that we have been able to increase our funding for next year and see it as an investment, providing our partners more opportunities to make arts, culture and creativity accessible to all.

Artistic Director Gareth Machin and Executive Director Rosa Corbishley said of the grant: We are delighted that Wiltshire Council has continued to build on its support of the thriving cultural sector in the county. Wiltshire Creative reaches 250,000 people a year, with audiences travelling from across the county. Our Pantomime this year saw 25,000 people visit our venue of who 22% were first time attendees. Over 20% of our audiences travelled 90mins to get to the show and contributed hugely to economic activity in the region. In addition, this support from Wiltshire Council will enable us to build on the 15,000 young people and community participants who take part in our vibrant education and community programmes each year.

Alan Wright, Director of Trowbridge Town Hall, said In addition to the generous allocation of funding by Wiltshire Council, as a result of its successful grant application to the Future High Streets Fund, that has enabled the full capital refurbishment of the former Trowbridge Town Hall, allowing the Trust to re-open the building later this year to provide a regional exemplar as an incubator for creative talent, the Trust also appreciates the 10% uplift in the annual subsidy received from the Council, which will be a valued contribution towards delivering our services into the community.

Russ Tunney, Director of Pound Arts, said: On behalf of all at Pound Arts and the communities we serve all across Wiltshire we are delighted by this commitment by the council to supporting the arts provision which has such impact on the lives of people living in the region. Wiltshire has an enviable reputation for the quality of its cultural offer and this is in no small part due to continued support from the council. In difficult financial times such as these people need the benefits that cultural engagement brings and the recognition of this to assist us all in creating more fabulous performances, participatory programmes and projects which address social issues such as improving mental health, wellbeing and other local priorities is to be celebrated.

Daniel Clark and Sarah Robertson, Co-Directors, Wiltshire Music Centre, said: We are grateful for this funding uplift from Wiltshire Council. Their continued support and steadfast recognition of the huge value arts and culture brings is appreciated by everyone at Wiltshire Music Centre and will help ensure that everyone in Wiltshire has access to the highest quality music and music education every day.

 More information about the Wiltshire Cultural Strategy can be found at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/945/Arts-service.