Arts organisations will receive £109 million funding over the next four years it has been announced.

A total of 103 galleries, studios, and arts companies will be given the Arts Council England cash, with £7.6 million going directly to Southampton groups between 2018 and 2022.

In Southampton six organisations have been awarded ‘national portfolio’ status, with two new organisations joining the prestigious group for the first time. 

It means they are guaranteed funding for four years, and represent "some of the best art practice in the world."

A space arts - which supports 58 artists across Southampton and Eastleigh - and Southampton Museums will receive essential cash to broaden their reach and increase numbers of staff while the John Hansard Gallery will receive “a substantial increase on its current investment to support its move to a new site in the city centre.”

Director of a space arts, Daniel Crow, said he was “super-chuffed” with their conditional offer of £100,000 a year over the next four years. 

He said the funding will allow him to increase the number of staff working at the base in Tower House on Winkle Street, as well as enhance the programme they offer, and employ an artists' development officer to work with artists in the city. 

He said: “It’s the endorsement and recognition that means so much - and we are very very pleased after seventeen years of growing this organisation.”

The organisations in Southampton that will be part of the National Portfolio in 2018-22 are: 

  • A Space Arts
  • Art Asia Trust Ltd
  • John Hansard Gallery
  • The Southampton Nuffield Theatre Trust
  • Southampton City Council (Southampton Museums)
  • Turner Sims, Southampton
  • Artswork

Eastleigh-based dance company Zoielogic will also receive NPO status, with a guarantee of £195,300 over the next four years. Artistic director Zoie Golding - who started the company sixteen years ago on a voluntary basis said she would now be able to increase her staff by more than double and that the grant is "life-saving.

"It means some of us have actually got a job now."

Phil Gibby, Arts Council England’s Area Director in the South West, said: ‘This is an exceptionally strong portfolio of organisations delivering great arts and cultural experiences to audiences throughout the South West.  

“We are delighted to be making a significant increase to our investment in Southampton.

"We are truly grateful to the City Council for their invaluable commitment to arts and culture which provides the environment for a thriving arts and cultural scene to flourish.” 

The national portfolio will have 831 arts organisations with £409 million being invested per year. 

An additional £42 million per year (£170 million over four years) will be spent outside London between 2018 and 2022.

Arts Council England has also announced National Lottery-funded Capital awards. 

Four arts and cultural organisations in the South West will share a total of £1.3million which will help to give them the best buildings and equipment to deliver their excellent work. 

More to follow.