The Arts Council England (ACE), through its National Portfolio Programme, has awarded Hull Museums a mighty £3.3 million in order to support and broaden the work of the Humber Museums Partnership. The allocated funding will enable the three museum services of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, and North Lincolnshire to build on their working relationship while introducing more creative and cultural opportunities to the Humber region.
In total, ACE received 1,730 applications requesting just over £2 billion across the proposed three-year investment period, marking this investment opportunity the most popular to date and Hull’s success even more significant. In order to support the government’s priorities for levelling up, ACE has committed to providing organisations that open up access to underserved communities outside of London with a boost. As such, a real impact is set to be made in the Hull and Humber area, with the allocated funding working to attract world-class art and talent.
Local audiences will be provided with free access to all manner of events and exhibitions, and students from primary school up to secondary school will be given the opportunity to build and broaden their own creative skills. Moreover, as Hull City Council News reports, “A focus on developing local talent will provide artist residences and internships, keeping creative talent in the region”. The monetary uplift additionally allows Hull Museums to welcome North East Lincolnshire Museums into the Humber Museums Partnership (HMP), expanding its overall reach.
Hull Culture and Leisure Lead, Councillor Rob Pritchard, commented: “This funding will help ensure we can continue to grow our cultural offer so that people who live here can be proud of our city, and more visitors come to see what Hull has to offer”.