Helmsley Arts Centre looks to the future despite funding setback

Helmsley Arts Centre was disappointed not to be included in the Arts Council’s new portfolio of funded organisations announced on Wednesday 30 March. But the Centre — which provides an arts hub for northern Ryedale and beyond, and runs very successful youth theatre and children’s dance programmes — is ‘not disheartened’, says director David Powley.

‘We felt we put in a very strong and imaginative proposal, and we were given every support both by Arts Council officers and by Ryedale District Council. I think we weren’t chosen in the end because the Arts Council had the very difficult task of creating a ‘balanced’ portfolio, and that meant many good applicants like us were dropped in the final cut. It’s very sad — and perhaps a debate for another day — that the portfolio includes nothing in Ryedale and so few arts organisations across the whole of rural North Yorkshire.’

‘But we are already talking to the Arts Council and the District Council about other funding streams that could enable us to go on developing what the Arts Centre offers — which is unique in this area, and based on very strong foundations and the enthusiastic support of the community it serves. We have a wonderful multi-purpose building, which has just been enhanced with a beautiful new entrance foyer, and our finances are solid.

Most importantly, we have a very capable body of volunteers who enable us to do everything we do on a relatively low-cost basis, plus a very loyal core audience. That is the real secret of our success, ever since we first opened our doors almost 20 years ago.

Of course public funding helps a lot, and we’re grateful for the grants already promised to us by the Arts Council and Ryedale District Council for 2011/12. Not winning a place in the national portfolio is a blow, but I’m certain we’ll recover from it.

Meanwhile, The King’s Speech has been playing to packed houses all week, and we’re going to press with a fantastic programme of music, theatre, cinema, talks, exhibitions and classes for the second half of this year. So we look forward to seeing all our friends, old and new, and talking to them about exciting projects for the future.’