The Isle of Man Arts Council has announced it is providing grants, bursaries, underwriting and loans worth more than £140,000 to 34 island organisations and individuals.
Chairman of the Arts Council Geoff Corkish MBE MLC confirmed the group will provide support for the 2016/2017 year.
Mr Corkish said the arts make an enormous contribution to the island’s prosperity, quality of life and cultural identity and a wide variety of arts activities are only enabled by support from the Arts Council.
‘Funding allows organisations to maintain venues, employ staff and run projects that are enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. We enjoy a huge range of arts activity here, be they one-off performances, festivals, community events, competitions and the like.
‘They boost our quality of life and wellbeing and enhance our unique cultural identity.’
Mr Corkish added an evaluation of the year-long Island of Culture celebration in 2014 found that arts and creative industries contribute £6.4 million a year to the economy.
Emma Callin, arts development manager with the Department of Education and Children, said: ‘At the Gaiety Theatre, for example, we subsidise the amateur hire rate, without which the many talented amateur groups and artists we all enjoy would pay professional rates. That would price many of them out of the theatre and reduce participation in, and enjoyment of, the arts.
‘The creative industries is a growth sector for the Isle of Man and exposure to, and participation in, the arts is leading to more people opting for it as a career, which is also good for the economy.’
Although it announced the bulk of its funding, the Arts Council continues to consider applications throughout the year.
For more information visit www.iomarts.com