Midlands tourist economy gets £800,000 boost

Arts Council England is investing £800,000 to put art and culture at the heart of plans to boost the visitor and tourist economy in the Midlands.

Supporting four projects in Coventry, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Stoke, the investment comes from the Arts Council’s Cultural Destinations programme which gives arts and cultural organisations the resources they need to increase their reach and impact by working with the tourism sector.

Gary Hall, chief executive of Culture Coventry, which will receive £200,000 of the funding, said: “For many years the cultural organisations of Coventry have produced great work on an individual basis. This funding gives us the opportunity to work together, strengthening the vibrant cultural offer of the city and growing the national profile of Coventry.”

The other project are: Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, which will receive £300,000; Lincoln City Centre Partnership, which will receive £150,000; and Nottingham Contemporary, which will receive £150,000.

Peter Knott, Midlands Area director at Arts Council England, said: “This is fantastic news for the Midlands. It will be great to see this investment supporting the creation of new strategies which capitalise on the rich variety of arts and culture on offer in the region. Over the coming years, we hope to see these ambitious projects encouraging growth in local visitor economies, benefiting the people who live here as well as those choosing to visit from abroad.”