ARTS organisations across the region have this morning discovered whether their bid for public funding has been successful.

The Arts Council has provided funding to ten groups in the North-East which did not previously receive funding.

Others have seen an increase in grants, with mima, in Middlesbrough, the Queens Hall Arts, in Hexham, and The Maltings Theatre & Cinema, in Berwick more than doubling in funding.

However, many have either missed out entirely or had a reduction in funding.

Arts Council England’s said decisions on its new National Portfolio Organisations was taken against a challenging economic backdrop.

Nationally, the total grant is down 14.9 per cent, funded 695 organisations compared to 849 previously and included 110 new groups.

The body received 1,333 applications but would not announce which groups were unsuccessful.

Dame Liz Forgan, chairwoman of Arts Council England, said: “This is about a resilient future for the arts in England.

“We have taken the brave path of strategic choices not salami slices which has meant some painful decisions.”

Full story in The Northern Echo tomorrow.