! PRESS RELEASE: ÂŁ450,000 to be invested in the arts in Stoke over the next five years This news is embargoed until July 8 12 noon.
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Press Call and Photo/Interview Opportunity: July 8 2014 11am - noon Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Site Stoke-on-Trent ST6 8UW Full directions at end of press release
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Stoke arts organisations have been awarded half a million pounds by The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation to develop Artcity: a five-year programme which turns vacant buildings and disused spaces in the city into theatres, galleries, studios and cinemas.
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B Arts, a participatory arts organisation based in North Staffordshire, developed the programme for Artcity with a partnership of local independent arts organisations: Airspace Gallery, The Cultural Sisters, Letting In The Light, Partners In Creative Learning and Restoke. Between them they represent artists working in visual art, craft and textiles, film and video, music, dance and theatre.
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The Artcity programme has been developed to produce positive change for Stoke-on-Trent. In particular it will encourage more graduates from Staffordshire University to live and work in the city after their course has finished; to get more arts events happening in Stoke; and to help improve the creative profile of Stoke outside the city.
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Artcity also involves two of the city’s biggest organisations. Stoke City Council will be providing access to currently vacant buildings in its property portfolio. Councillor Knapper said on behalf of the Council: Stoke-on-Trent is blessed with a wonderful variety of historic buildings, and we are delighted that Esme Fairbairn and B Arts and Staffordshire University are working with us to make imaginative use of these great assets.
info@b-arts.org.uk
! www.b-arts.org.uk !! !! !! ! !
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