Ahead of the first accredited puppet museum in Great Britain opening at the Upfront Arts Venue, near Hutton-in-the-Forest, a plea has been made for support from Westmorland and Furness Council.
John Parkinson, who along with his wife, Elaine, founded the Upfront Arts Charity in 2003, addressed a meeting of the unitary authority’s Eden Locality Board in Penrith on Wednesday.
He said their art gallery, music venue and puppet theatre continued to be “left out in the cold” as far as funding from Westmorland and Furness Council was concerned.
Last year, Mr Parkinson said a consultation was put together to review arts provision in the new Westmorland and Furness area.
“That consultation involved inviting arts representatives and artists to a meeting. We attended one at Penrith library. The meeting has not led to any directional or state of the nation report. Existing funding is still going to those who had regular funding before.
“The current situation can only be seen as unfair and undermining to those organisations not included in any ongoing regular funding,” said Mr Parkinson, who added that the present situation was “unfair and biased and needs urgent review”.
The Upfront Arts Venue wants to work with Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) and is in the process of setting up the possibility of seeking regular annual funding as an NPO.
Mr Parkinson said: “At the end of February, we will open a designated puppet museum at Upfront, expanding our educational and tourism offer to the area.
“We would like to believe that we have the full financial support and recognition for what we do from our local and county council.
“Arts Council England need to see that what we do is valued by the council of the area in which we are located.”
Pat Bell (Lib Dem, Penrith) said an overarching strategy for arts and culture in the Westmorland and Furness area was agreed by the council’s cabinet on Tuesday and she thanked Mr Parkinson for all they do at Upfront.
The new Eden Locality Board chair, Lorna Baker (Lib Dem, Eden and Lyvennet Vale) said a written response would be provided to the points which Mr Parkinson had raised.
