
St Helens Council to decide on £236k bid for arts project
The Cabinet will vote on a bid to continue the project for a further year after the current programme ends in 2025/26.
If successful, the bid could secure an additional £236,000 to sustain art projects across the borough.
The Arts In Libraries Project, part of St Helens Borough Council, is one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations (NPO).
It has been receiving funding to carry on its work from 2023 to 2026.
The project aims to make culture accessible to everyone by offering a wide range of events including exhibitions, music, drama, workshops, and family events.
In the first year of its current funding, the Arts In Libraries Project delivered 100 events, with more than 40 specifically aimed at children.
A total of 7,760 people participated, of which 40 per cent were families.
A programme of performances, exhibitions, festivals, screenings, talks, and workshops was delivered by 113 artists and creative practitioners.
The report to the Cabinet states: “St Helens Borough Council has a long tradition of investing in arts-focused community projects.
“The Arts in Libraries programme is funded to deliver activities as part of an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funded contract.
“(NPOs) provide a backbone of creative and cultural provision across the country.”
The project has been highly successful, with 99 per cent of all audiences rating activities as good or very good.
More than 35 per cent of the artists were from the borough, and more than 60 per cent were from the Liverpool City region.
The council is seen as having a “pathfinder library service” for its Arts In Libraries Project and is frequently asked to lead on national events to share good practice.
People from across the social spectrum, including those from the most deprived communities who are less likely to engage with arts and cultural activities, have participated in the project.
They made up a third of all audiences and 41 per cent of new audiences.
The decision on the bid to extend will be made at the Cabinet meeting on December 19 at 4pm.