Castlefield Gallery will be part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio from 2018-2022

As Arts Council England today released their investment plans for the next four years, Castlefield Gallery is pleased to announce that it will continue to be part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio from 2018-2022.

Founded in 1984, Castlefield Gallery is a Manchester based gallery, agency and charity. The gallery has an established track record for developing artistic talent, and leading agendas to further contemporary visual arts practice in the North of England and beyond.

The organisation’s curated exhibitions and commissions programme promotes artists at key stages of their careers, focusing its national and international work on artist exchange. Beyond the main gallery Castlefield Gallery provide New Art Spaces; pop-up project and production spaces for artists and creatives across Greater Manchester and the region, whilst also curating and producing work off-site, including art in the public realm.

Artist focused, Castlefield Gallery supports around 200 artist members through its CG Associates (CGA). The CGA programme is a professional development scheme for artists, writers and independent curators. Castlefield Gallery is also one of the founding members of Culture Forum North, established to provide a definitive voice for the value of partnerships and a dynamic platform for collaborating universities and cultural organisations in the North of England. The gallery has formal talent partnerships with universities, such as Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, Manchester, and collaborate with the University of Bolton. It is also grateful for funding it receives from Manchester City Council Castlefield Gallery also regularly uses its expertise to form and deliver artist development programmes for other providers.

Whilst Castlefield Gallery is saddened by some clear losses for the visual arts sector, in Arts Council England’s National Portfolio, it is heartened by the addition of many smaller scale and diverse organisations. We extend our congratulations in particular to Grand Union, Primary, KARST, and Venture Arts. The announcement secures the strengthening of our partnerships such as that with Venture Arts, a Manchester-based organisation that enables learning-disabled people to make great art and play a valued role in the region’s vibrant and diverse cultural ecology.

Marla Cunningham, Chair of Castlefield Gallery’s Board said:

“We are absolutely thrilled that the Arts Council England has agreed to fund Castlefield Gallery for the next four years. It shows how vital Castlefield Gallery is to the wider arts ecology in the region and beyond. This funding will be used to continue to build strong foundations for a vibrant programme, artist support and future initiatives.”

Helen Wewiora, Director of Castlefield Gallery

“Myself and the team at Castlefield Gallery are delighted the organisation will continue to be part of the Arts Council England National Portfolio for the period 2018-2022. This is a real achievement, and demonstrates a genuine confidence in Castlefield Gallery and its work. The positive outcome is to the credit of the organisation’s staff team, including our incredible volunteers, and Trustees, our partners, and in particular the wealth of brilliant artists, curators and writers we are so privileged to work with.  As always we thank our audiences and supporters.”

The announcement also comes after the gallery was awarded Arts Council England’s Catalyst Evolve funding, an initiative from Arts Council England supporting arts and cultural organisations to grow private giving and build resilience. This means that, between 2016 and August 2019, Arts Council England will match every pound we secure from new Trust & Foundation sources, corporate sponsorship and donations, as well as individual donations made to Castlefield Gallery, on a 1:1 basis. Castlefield Gallery has been named by I love Manchester as one of the top small-scale charities in Manchester doing ‘inspirational things’.

Castlefield Gallery has been offered an amount of £70,000 per year for 2018-2022.

Castlefield Gallery | Agency is part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio, and a Manchester City Council Cultural Partner. Additionally, in July 2016 it secured funding from Arts Council England’s Catalyst: Evolve fund, a new initiative from Arts Council England that aims to support arts organisations to grow private giving and build resilience. Money raised from new sources will be matched by the Arts Council England pound for pound via the fund, and over a period of three years up to August 2019.

For further information, images or to arrange interviews, please contact: Jennifer Dean, Communications and Audience Development Coordinator at Castlefield Gallery, on jennifer@castlefieldgallery.co.uk / 0161 832 8034 or 07766046672.