Courtyard retain Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status

We are delighted to announce that we have been re-awarded the status of National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) by Arts Council England.

NPO Status is given to leading arts organisations in the UK and provides funding from the Arts Council England. This funding directly supports artistic development both within the building and out in the community with a specific focus on developing talent.

We currently deliver an extensive development programme which offers support and encouragement to young people through our Youth Theatre and outreach work within schools. Our creative ageing programme has also had great success over the last few years with our work supporting care homes through creative development.

Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country.  We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.”

Arts Council England Chief Executive, Darren Henley, said: “Together, each of the 990 organisations that have been offered funding today will contribute to a portfolio that is rich, varied and truly national. This is our widest ever spread of investment across the country, ensuring that many more people will have access to a wider choice of exceptional art, culture and creative opportunities on their doorsteps. We are in tough times but we must remember creativity brings with it extraordinary dividends, boosting our country’s economic growth, creating jobs, bringing communities closer together, and making us happier as individuals. Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits it brings, and with this investment, we believe we’ve taken a decisive step towards making that vision a reality.”

Find out more about our development programme here.