DanceEast has been awarded £825,060 of National Portfolio funding per annum by Arts Council England, covering a three-year period from 2023 to 2026. This represents a standstill in the funder’s investment in DanceEast. It will protect our core work of bringing extraordinary performances and life-affirming participatory opportunities to people across the East of England. This includes groups for whom dance has a significant positive impact, such as talented young dancers from all backgrounds, and children, families and older people who might otherwise struggle to access our work.
We recognise that this funding builds on an extraordinary legacy, and we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to making DanceEast the organisation it is today. This includes current and former staff and Board members, audiences and participants, artists and companies, and local, national, and international partners.
Arts Council England’s annual £825,060 grant of to DanceEast represents an investment of £2.475million in the East of England. It demonstrates that the funder has recognised the importance of investing in great dance and the vital role it plays in building communities, from promoting positive health and wellbeing to supporting the local economy. National Portfolio funding will enable DanceEast to continue making a crucial contribution to the people of Ipswich, Suffolk, and the wider region. The news is bittersweet however, as many organisations across the country have missed out on investment, including some of our closest friends, as Arts Council England continues to make tough decisions about what they can support.
