Gulbenkian, the University's arts centre, has been awarded National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status by Arts Council England. The award includes a funding package of £1,095,076 over a 4 year period (£273,769 per year).
This funding supports projects run by, with and for children and young people, including the award-winning bOing! International Family Festival and ART31 – Gulbenkian’s Kent-wide project to connecting young people with opportunities in the arts.
Gulbenkian Director, Liz Moran said:
‘This is brilliant news for us we really appreciate the investment from Arts Council and in particular the increase to develop the ART31 cultural leadership project with even more young people in Kent. We are pleased to see so many organisations in Kent receiving NPO funding and look forward to working in partnership with them.’
The funding announcement comes at a time when the University of Kent is launching its new Cultural Strategy, increasing the profile of the arts across its Canterbury and Medway campuses, as well as its European postgraduate centres.
The University’s Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Denise Everitt said ‘This is great news for the University and all those who enjoy the Gulbenkian’s cultural activities, facilities and programmes, many of which are on the cutting edge of their genres. It also demonstrates the Arts Council‘s confidence in and support of Gulbenkian at a time when arts funding faces many challenges nationally. I am also delighted for Gulbenkian’s operations team and of course Liz Moran, who, through her new role as Director of Arts and Culture, will be overseeing the delivery of our Cultural Strategy and co-ordinating cultural activity across the University.’