Copeland Borough Council

Since its inception in 1993 the Arts Service has had six Arts Development Officers with long spells of volunteer support in between. The current Officers, David Chapple, in post since 2004 and Anne Timpson, in post since 2007.  These are full time, permanent positions. 

In addition a part-time temporary Project Co-ordinator for the West Cumbria Rural Touring Scheme (a joint project with Allerdale Borough Council) is based within the Arts Section. The section is based at the Council's Moresby Parks site, with a remit to work across the Borough.

The service also hosts the coordinator for Arts Out West.  This is a rural touring scheme which works in partnership with village halls to host professional performing arts acts from around the world.  Arts Out West also works in partnership with schools and community groups to deliver participatory activities.

The arts service has five key areas of activity:  

1. Strategic Council led initiatives in response to key local, regional and national priorities, in partnership with local organisations.  
2. Artist/organisation led activities (supported financially and/or in an advisory capacity) 
3. Advice and grant support to voluntary, amateur and statutory organisations. Grant support is through the 'Local Arts Initiative Scheme', (a proportion of the Arts budget earmarked to support local groups) 
4. Marketing and Advocacy 
5. Performance Management - Monitoring and Evaluation of the Service 

Current priorities are linked to the service aim to be geographically, socially and economically accessible to all; to that end, over the last three years the service has targeted young people, formal and informal education, (life long learning) rural and excluded communities. In addition the service has a role to play in economic regeneration through working with partners to improve the infrastructure for tourism and Creative Industries.

The Arts Service directs its efforts to areas of maximum potential to ensure successful outcomes that can be developed into sustainable partnerships. The Arts service encourages and enables initiatives at grass roots community level, whilst addressing local, regional and national strategies. 

The service does not prioritise its programme in terms of artforms, but responds broadly to the requirements of individual groups and communities and identified priorities for economic growth.