§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects the Arts Council of England to announce its grant decisions under the Arts for Everyone main programme; how many applications for awards under this scheme have been received; what is the total amount requested; and what estimate he has made of the size of the awards which will be issued under this programme. [7875]
§ Mr. FisherThe Arts for Everyone main scheme invites applications from established organisations for between £500 and £500,000 for new arts activities. There have been two rounds this year. 1,000 applications were received for the first round (closing date 31 March 1997), totalling some £150 million. Funding decisions will be made by the Arts Council of England in August 1997, with a planned public announcement of awards in the middle of September.
The second round (closing date 30 June 1997) received 700 applications seeking some £70 million. Funding decisions will be made by the Arts Council of England in November 1997.
I understand that the Arts Council consider there to have been good quality applications across the whole spectrum of artforms and types of organisation, and that the Council anticipates that grants will range in size from £1,000 to £500,000. Given the level of applications received however, the Council does not anticipate being able to meet all applications in this round.