AN arts organisation has been awarded £75,000 to help towards its running costs.

Cleveland Arts has received the money from The Baring Foundation, one of Britain's major grant-giving trusts. The organisation, which runs events and activities throughout Teesside, is only the second in the region to qualify for a Foundation grant.

Mike Hill, director of Cleveland Arts, said: "We are delighted and honoured by the award.

"Simply being invited to apply, as one of just eight bodies across the whole of Britain, was welcome recognition of the value of what we do."

The grant will supplement money from Northern Arts and local councils, which the organisation receives on a regular basis. Mr Hill said the total would not be enough to meet all its costs.

"We have to raise more funds to keep the organisation solvent, as well as for individual projects," he said.

"Our aim is to strengthen the heart of Cleveland Arts, and this grant will be used creatively for that purpose. Already, we have had one further success - by using a proportion of this year's grant as match-funding, we have been awarded an Arts Lottery grant.