Lighthouse Poole has retained its status as a National Portfolio Organisation after Arts Council England today confirmed its continuing financial support of the arts and entertainment venue. 

The award of £348,510 a year for the next three years accounts for about eight per cent of the annual income of Lighthouse, enabling it to continue to deliver a wide ranging and great arts and entertainment programme for the communities of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, as well as the wider region. It will support creative talent development, providing learning and education opportunities for young people through partnership schools and Lighthouse Academy programmes, and support professional artists to develop their craft and reach wide and diverse audiences. 

"Lighthouse is enormously grateful for the on-going support of Arts Council England and is proud to retain its status as a National Portfolio Organisation in this challenging time," says Chief Executive Elspeth McBain. 

"This news has come at a crucial moment as, in common with venues across the country, Lighthouse is still in recovery from the pandemic and that recovery remains a priority. Audiences are returning, but not yet at the same levels pre-pandemic, and venues are facing a perfect storm of increased operating costs, a cost-of-living squeeze on audiences, soaring energy prices and deepening economic hardship, so there are enormous challenges ahead." 

As one of 990 National Portfolio Organisations, Lighthouse is considered one of the country's cultural leaders. 

"The NPO funding means Lighthouse can now forge ahead with its plans to deliver on Let's Create, the Arts Council's 10-year strategy, supporting their key investment principles by ensuring our work is inclusive and relevant to our communities, ambitious and dynamic. 

"Lighthouse remains committed to presenting high quality productions and artists, bringing to our community vibrant and wide-ranging cultural experiences which are different every day”.