Cumbria County Council Cultural Policy Unit Team

Bruce Bennison, Head of Cultural Policy - Tel: (01228) 227305

Carol Leathley, Cultural Development Officer - Tel: (01228) 227289

Cherrie Trelogan, Arts Participation Officer - Tel: (01228) 227339

Sheila Stalker, Unit Administrator - Tel: (01228) 227306

Karen Wood, Admin Assistant - Tel: (01228) 227337

Dave Camlin, Director SoundWave (Cumbria Youth Music Action Zone) - Tel: (01900) 325007

Lynn Fade, Dance Co-ordinator - Tel: (01931) 715546

Katie Wise, Events Development Officer - Tel: (01228) 227269

Sue Allan, Eden Arts Trust (contact for Writing Cumbria) - Tel: (01768) 899444

Mary Harris, Eden Arts Trust (contact for Voluntary Arts) - Tel: (01768) 899444

Cumbria County Council’s Cultural Policy Team aims to improve the quality of life and access to cultural opportunities for a wide range of local communities. Support, advice and financial assistance is provided to cultural, voluntary and community groups across Cumbria.

Cultural Grants

The Cultural Policy Team manages a Cultural Grants budget, which is aimed at providing strategic support for organisations across Cumbria, in accordance with the Corporate Strategy of the County Council. 

We regret that we cannot fund individuals, projects that have already taken place, groups that are not formally constituted, or 100% of a project's total cost (i.e. we expect applicants to demonstrate evidence of other funding).

The Cultural Policy Team also provides strategic development advice to a wide range of cultural organisations across Cumbria and team members work closely with many related organisations within the wider North West Region. These include:

Arts Council of England North West (website – www.artscouncil.org.uk)

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council North West (website – www.nwmlac.org.uk)

The North West Cultural Consortium (website – www.culturenorthwest.org.uk)

Application packs for each fund are available from the Cultural Policy Team office at Cumbria County Council, Arroyo Block, The Castle, Carlisle, CA3 8UR. Tel 01228 227306 or email sheila.stalker@cumbriacc.gov.uk 

Please discuss projects with the relevant lead officer before completing an application form.

Cultural Sector Grants
Lead Officer: Carol Leathley, Cultural Development Officer 
Tel 01228 227289, e-mail carol.leathley@cumbriacc.gov.uk

A strategic investment fund which aims to improve quality of life by encouraging sustainable cultural development and community regeneration through the arts, museums and heritage, and the creative industries. In the financial year 2008/09 the fund will total £218,000
Grants available up to £37,000 or 50% of total project cost.

Cultural Sector Grant Project and Amount Received 2008/09

NW Vision Cumbria Film Office - £5,000

Artgene - £8,000

Cumbria Cultural Skills Partnership - £2,500

Prism Arts and disability plus older people's arts projects - £10,000

Theatre by the Lake - £37,000

Rosehill Theatre - £15,000

Brewery Arts Centre - £25,000

Youth Dance - £6,500

Rural Touring 27 village halls, 25 schools - Arts out West - £7,000

Rural Touring 30 village halls - Highlights - £14,500

Carlisle City Tullie House Visual Arts Centre - £8,000

Cumbria Arts in Education - £34,500

Barracudas - £2,000

County Mass participatory - new writing - £7,000

Eden Arts writing Cumbria - £6,500

Barrow Arts Development - £8,500

Local Area Agreement cultural post/delivery and advocacy - £17,000

Local Area Agreement seed project programme - £5,000