§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the help available for community arts in the Stroud area. [62993]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 19 June 2002]:Funding for the arts is a matter for the Arts Council of England and its regional offices. South West Arts, which incorporates Stroud, currently distributes over £9 million a year to help support the arts and increase opportunities for audiences across the region. It also works with local authorities in the development and delivery of arts and cultural activity at a community level and support for community arts is available through both revenue and lottery funds subject to certain criteria being met.