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Theatre secures funding and gains national portfolio recognition

30/06/2017

The Arena Theatre has secured almost £1/2 million funding after its successful application to join the National Portfolio for the Arts Council.

The theatre, which is part of the University of Wolverhampton’s Faculty of Arts, based in the City of Wolverhampton, has secured funding from 2018 until 2022 (£110,069 per year) and joins well-established national and international organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Peter Knott, Area Director of Arts Council England, said:  “The Arena Theatre produces work reflecting Wolverhampton’s rich cultural diversity, alongside providing a space for young artists to create and develop theatrical skills.

“We’re delighted to be investing in its ambitions across the next four years and it’ll be great to see them continue to commission new work and engage with diverse audiences in Wolverhampton and beyond.”

Neil Reading, Venue Manager at the Arena Theatre, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been successful in our application to join the National Portfolio for the Arts Council and to have secured funding for the next four years.

“The theatre has developed a tradition of high-quality programming in response to the cultural interests in a diverse urban area. We have strived to offer a coherent and challenging theatre programme which is wide-ranging and eclectic, supporting the Creative Case for Diversity and developing new artists from the region.

“We are also committed to retaining, extending and diversifying our audiences, and ensuring that the widest possible range of people benefit from the programme and facilities.”

The Arena Theatre is a unique venue in the heart of Wolverhampton that presents a wide range of theatre, music, dance and comedy.  

Picture courtesy of Drew White.

ENDS

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: 29th June 2017

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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