Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chair of Arts Council England (ACE), today visited some of the projects that benefit from Government or National Lottery funding in Leicester.
Sir Peter had planned to visit last Monday but it had to be postponed because of the travel disruption caused by storms in the south of the country.
Sir Peter’s visit had to be postponed because of the travel disruption caused by storms in the south of the country.
Meeting Sir Peter at the start of his visit was City Mayor Peter Soulsby.
“Our partnership with Arts Council England is extremely important to us. It’s allowed us to deliver the large-scale arts projects that have set our UK City of Culture bid on such a firm footing – such as Curve – as well as supporting the smaller schemes that do so much to enrich community life in Leicester.
“The generous support that we continue to receive from ACE is hugely appreciated.
“I look forward to meeting Sir Peter and showing him around some of Leicester’s venues and projects of which we’re so proud.”
Sir Peter started his tour at Curve, where he met the cast of Chicago, members of Leicester’s UK City of Culture bid team, and Jess Green – a Young Arts Entrepreneur who will be running a workshop with students from Moat Community College.
He then made a brief visit to Makers’ Yard – the former hosiery factory that’s been converted into an award-winning workspace for artists and designer-makers – before making the short walk to the art studio and gallery at Two Queens.
His tour then continued at Phoenix – Leicester’s independent cinema and digital gallery – where he met representatives of other ACE-funded projects.
After a working lunch, Sir Peter was taken to the new facilities of community arts organisation, Soft Touch, before calling in on New Walk Museum.
Leicester’s bid to become the UK City of Culture 2017 was submitted on 30 September.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is due to announce the winning city on 20 November.
Should the winner be an English city, it will be able to apply for up to £3million of funding from Arts Council England.
Last month, Sir Peter made a similar visit to Hull – the only other English city to join Leicester on the UK City of Culture 2017 shortlist.
