Burton At Bideford wins £120k of Arts Council England funding

The Burton At Bideford art gallery and museum has been awarded a £120,000 grant from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme.

This funding will enable The Burton to continue providing high-quality creative and cultural experiences for people in North Devon, while reducing the organisation’s environmental impact.

The money will be used to improve the sustainability of the Burton building, with plans to install solar PV panels and update the glazing on the front elevation, as well as modernising the heating systems and bathrooms.

The funding also includes commissioning opportunities for local artists, helping The Burton to further build its reputation for supporting work about the environment through its series of Environmental Commissions.

The Capital Investment Programme supports the Arts Council’s mission to ensure communities across the country have the infrastructure where creativity for everyone can thrive.

Carole Evans, co-director (interim), Learning & Engagement at The Burton, said: “In a landscape of rising energy costs, the past couple of years have been challenging for The Burton – as a charity we rely on grants and donations to continue the valuable work we do.

“This funding from Arts Council England will reduce our costs over the long term, allowing more of our precious funds to go to providing outreach projects, free workshops for children, and continuing to bring high-quality exhibitions to North Devon.”

Darren Henley, chief executive, Arts Council England said: “This infrastructure investment will help a whole range of different cultural organisations across England to flourish, increasing opportunities for people to enjoy creatively excellent cultural events close to where they live.

“It’s particularly important that we’re making this happen in communities where cultural investment has historically been low.”