ARTS organisations in Southampton will receive more than £13 million between 2018 and 2022.

Seven organisations have been awarded ‘national portfolio’ (NPO) status, meaning they are guaranteed funding for four years, and billed as “some of the best art practices in the world.”

Youth art and education charity Artswork has been awarded an annual grant of £1,519,397 a year until 2022.

CEO Jane Bryant said the grant shows “renewed confidence in the commitment to transform the lives of children and young people through arts.”

A Space Arts – which supports 58 artists across Southampton and Eastleigh - and Southampton Museums are two new NPOs in the city while John Hansard Gallery will receive “a substantial increase” of 34 per cent up to £601,511.

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.

The funding will allow him to increase the number of staff working from 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 pleased after 17 years of growing this organisation.”

The Southampton organisations awarded NP status for 2018-2022 are:

l A Space Arts – £400,000

l Art Asia Trust Ltd – £383,308

l Artswork - £ 6,077,588

l John Hansard Gallery – £2,406,044

l The Southampton Nuffield Theatre Trust – £3,897,396

l Southampton City Council (Southampton Museums) – £400,000

l Turner Sims, Southampton – £172,488

Southampton’s culture chief Councillor Satvir Kaur, inset, said: “The council continues to work closely with partners to ensure culture is supported in the city, not only as a driver of economic growth and tourism, but also as something that can enhance the lives of the city’s residents.”

Eastleigh-based dance company Zoielogic will also receive NPO status, with a guarantee of £781,200.

Artistic director Zoie Golding – who started the company 16 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.

She said: “It means some of us have actually got a job now.”

The Point in Eastleigh has also been assured of £500,000.

Artistic director Sacha Lee said: “This funding will secure our ongoing commitment to nurturing new artists, providing a home to established ones; continuing to position Eastleigh on the national and international map as a space for developing inventive new work.”