Warwickshire Libraries set to benefit from national Arts Council England funding

The new NPO status means that Warwickshire Libraries will receive up to £630,000 in funding from Arts Council England’s Investment Programme over the next three years. This will support with cultural and creative programming and outreach activities delivered through Warwickshire Libraries, with a particular focus on the North Warwickshire and Nuneaton and Bedworth areas.

All libraries managed by the County Council will reap the local and national benefits from the funding received, but as an Arts Council England priority place there will be particular emphasis to support the creative and cultural offers at Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire libraries, which also meet the criteria for assistance as part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.

Over the three-year funding period, Warwickshire Libraries will work closely with Arts Council England to:

• promote libraries as places for people to access great art and culture within their local communities;
• create new and exciting opportunities for the people of Warwickshire to enjoy and participate in culture;
• seek new opportunities to work with creative individuals and organisations to explore, develop and deliver new work through Warwickshire Libraries’ events programme;
• grow and develop the creative and practical skills of library staff and embed new opportunities for them to think and approach cultural programming differently and to grow their skills working with artists and creatives; and
• deliver work which is inclusive, accessible, and representative of Warwickshire’s people and communities.

Warwickshire Libraries applied for NPO status to support with plans to develop a high-quality cultural offer for the people of Warwickshire, to continue to build library audiences, and to work in the areas of the county where significant inequalities exist to make the service offer as accessible to as many people as possible. NPO status will also enable Warwickshire Libraries to be seen as a leader in arts and cultural activities and delivery, whilst also helping Council priority groups and supporting key actions in The Council Plan more effectively.

In the Council Plan the County Council reinforced its commitment to develop an approach to levelling up and to understand and tackle the disparities that can limit opportunity. In July 2022 Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet approved a countywide approach to Levelling Up in Warwickshire which sets out how working in partnership the Council will address this long-term challenge.