New initiative provides funding boost for Halesworth charity

A leading company transforming lives through creativity has received funding from a new initiative.

The Arts Council has awarded Halesworth-based Suffolk Artlink £99,995, which should also enable them to attract greater support from local businesses and sponsors.

Nick Tapper, from the Arts Council, said that the new Catalyst Evolve programme provides match funding to arts organisations.

For every pound raised by the charity, Arts Council England will give another pound, doubling the value of donations.

The Arts Council funding will also be used to enable the arts organisation to develop new campaigns and a new approach to generating income.

Suffolk Artlink’s co-director, Alex Casey, said: “In the last 10 years we have helped over 17,000 people to transform their lives through taking part in our inspiring creative projects. “Our work reaches family carers, children and young people, adults with learning disabilities, older people and people with dementia and takes place in community venues across Suffolk including hospitals, care homes and schools.

“Catalyst funding will enable Suffolk Artlink to grow its individual giving and business donor support through improving the charity’s capacity and skills – to help us meet the needs of more people than ever before.”

Also announced was a grant of £138,000 to Ipswich-based DanceEast and £150,000 to Pacitti Company which produces the Ipswich and London-based SPILL Festival of Performance.