For the first time in its history, Arts Council England has provided funding for a project focused specifically on burlesque. The Hebden Bridge Burlesque Festival has recently been awarded around £12,000 through Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts programme for its fourth annual festival. The festival runs for four days each year, and with funding it is solidified alongside the rest of the arts. In the past, aspects of burlesque have only featured in funded projects by Arts Council England, such as in the biannual Morecambe Variety Festival.
Taking place from 28 April to 1 May, the festival – the first of its kind outside London – was opened by the local mayor last year, going some way in showing its success and longevity. The Hebden Bridge Valley area will see the fourth festival bounce back to its former heights, following flooding during the 2015 winter. Four of the festival’s venues flooded as the team were about to announce the festival’s line up, meaning the festival rethought its strategy and brought forward its plans to apply for funding.
The Hebden Bridge Burlesque Festival provides a platform for showcasing and developing new talent, championing diversity and developing audiences for the art form of burlesque. With its improved relationship with the local council, the newly announced funding is a huge coup for the West Yorkshire festival. In the past it has received opposition from members of the public and local councillors, with it even banned from using a council-run venue.
The successful funding application will now mean the festival has been provided with financial security in accounting for half its total budget. It will also mean it can be more adventurous in terms of programming, having commissioned new work for 2016 and additionally curating a more diverse show cast The 2016 festival will also be signed by a British Sign Language interpreter.
Funding success for burlesque festival
For the first time in its history, Arts Council England has provided funding for a project focused specifically on burlesque. The Hebden Bridge Burlesque Festival has recently been awarded around £12,000 through Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts programme for its fourth annual festival. The festival runs for four days each year, and with funding it is solidified alongside the rest of the arts. In the past, aspects of burlesque have only featured in funded projects by Arts Council England, such as in the biannual Morecambe Variety Festival.
Taking place from 28 April to 1 May, the festival – the first of its kind outside London – was opened by the local mayor last year, going some way in showing its success and longevity. The Hebden Bridge Valley area will see the fourth festival bounce back to its former heights, following flooding during the 2015 winter. Four of the festival’s venues flooded as the team were about to announce the festival’s line up, meaning the festival rethought its strategy and brought forward its plans to apply for funding.
The Hebden Bridge Burlesque Festival provides a platform for showcasing and developing new talent, championing diversity and developing audiences for the art form of burlesque. With its improved relationship with the local council, the newly announced funding is a huge coup for the West Yorkshire festival. In the past it has received opposition from members of the public and local councillors, with it even banned from using a council-run venue.
The successful funding application will now mean the festival has been provided with financial security in accounting for half its total budget. It will also mean it can be more adventurous in terms of programming, having commissioned new work for 2016 and additionally curating a more diverse show cast The 2016 festival will also be signed by a British Sign Language interpreter.