ARTS projects in Hampshire have every right to be feeling very happy with the announcement of who gets what from the Arts Council.

As this paper reports today, the grants for 12 projects in the county amount to no less than £6.7m. That includes well over a million pounds to help with the running of the new Cultural Quarter to be built in Southampton city centre and a similar sum going to the city’s John Hansard Gallery.

The future of the Mela Festival is assured for the next three years as is the Winchester Hat Fair and there is funding for the Point at Eastleigh with its focus on contemporary dance.

This is a far cry from past grants that have been paltry by comparison and seem to reflect a growing understanding in the Arts Council that culture does and should exist outside of London.

It is also recognition of the role culture and the arts plays in the Southampton city region.

Such recognition does not come by chance, nor does the funding to support it and there is credit here due to all those involved in these endeavours.

Hampshire has a solid foundation now to build on and stake a claim as a serious cultural and arts region.