Ian Lavery MP, Member of Parliament for Wansbeck in Northumberland has written to the Government with concerns about Arts funding for local organisations who work with the creative arts across the county. Mr Lavery, who said the Arts were an important part of celebrating “our community’s wealth of culture, heritage and history” issued the following statement to accompany his letter to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport;

“In July I wrote to the government regarding the concerning lack of balance in Arts funding distribution to local organisations based in the North East. Since then, I have received a government response pledging more future support and am pleased to hear a recent bid by Northumberland Theatre Company has been successful.

However, I will be asking the government and Arts Council that this continues and that excellent groups like NTC who deliver productions across the country (often using North East based actors and promoting Northumbrian stories and culture) get the financial support they need to keep doing great work which i am proud to see being done in our communities.”