The Core at Corby Cube is pleased to have received positive news relating to today’s funding announcement from Arts Council England. Confirmed as a three-year agreement of £173,403 per year, commencing from April 2023, it will enable The Core to build upon its current success within the communities it serves.
Joe Flavin, Director, The Core at Corby Cube and Jo Gordon, Chief Executive said: “We are grateful to have received such encouraging news, which allows us to continue our commitment to providing a variety of events for our local communities both in The Core itself and in other spaces across the county. Against a challenging economic climate, it will specifically allow us to focus even more on opportunities to engage young people from all backgrounds in excellent creative learning experiences. This investment from the Arts Council is a great endorsement of the hard work of our colleagues, volunteers and trustees, who re-imagined what The Core could offer during the pandemic and who have continued to build on our important role in our communities. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our main local funder North Northamptonshire Council for their ongoing support in these difficult times. Today’s funding announcements won’t have brought good news for everyone in the industry though and we are thinking of those of our excellent peers who might not be celebrating today.”
From its diverse programme of quality shows, community events and an extensive creative learning programme, The Core is proud to have engaged over 164,000 people across all activity in the last four and a half years as a National Portfolio Organisation. The venue is now poised to grow and further diversify its audiences in Corby and across North Northants as it is entrusted to deliver against the Arts Council’s Let’s Create Strategy. The Core’s increasing role in the cost of living crisis is about providing the broadest access to events, workshops and activities and this funding will enable the continuation of that important programme of work.
Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country. We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.”
Arts Council England Chief Executive, Darren Henley, said: “Together, each of the 990 organisations that have been offered funding today will contribute to a portfolio that is rich, varied and truly national. This is our widest ever spread of investment across the country, ensuring that many more people will have access to a wider choice of exceptional art, culture and creative opportunities on their doorsteps. We are in tough times but we must remember creativity brings with it extraordinary dividends, boosting our country’s economic growth, creating jobs, bringing communities closer together, and making us happier as individuals. Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits it brings, and with this investment, we believe we’ve taken a decisive step towards making that vision a reality.”
Peter Knott, Area Director for Arts Council England said: “We want creative communities in every corner of the country to have the opportunity to thrive, and we’re delighted to be increasing our investment in the Core at Corby Cube as a vibrant creative hub. It will be great to see local people coming together to enjoy and experience a variety of great cultural activities and events.”