Northcott and Dartington miss out on arts grants

The Northcott said it presented a "great application"

Two major arts organisations in Devon are to lose their Arts Council grants from 2012.

Bids of £600,000 by Dartington Arts near Totnes and more than £500,000 by the Northcott Theatre in Exeter were rejected.

South West organisations getting regular funding from Arts Council England have been cut from 78 to 69.

Other organisations, including the Real Ideas Organisation (RIO) in Plymouth, have seen their funding rise.

About 1,300 venues, theatres, galleries and arts groups applied for grants from the Arts Council, which had its budget cut by £100m in October's Spending Review.

Phil Gibby, regional director of Arts Council England, said: "We had very very strong competition for funds in the South West.

"I'm afraid we found other applications were stronger than the Northcott's."

He said the Arts Council was increasing funding for RIO which helps children and unemployed young people, so that it has a regional role.

RIO will get £880,000 in 2012/13, rising to £926,355 in 2014/15.

The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Theatre Alibi in Exeter and the Spacex gallery in Exeter also get increased funding in details published by the Arts Council.

Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre said it was "delighted" to get about £125,000 a year from 2012 to 2015, as well as £88,000 this year.

Kate Tyrell, executive director of the Northcott Theatre, said the theatre would be turning to Exeter University and the city council for help.

"We presented a great application.

"Sadly they have chosen not to include us which can only be disappointing."

Arts Council funding represented about a third of funding for Dartington Arts.

David Francis, director of arts at Dartington, said the rejection would have a "very significant impact" but the Barn Cinema and the International Summer School would continue.

"Over the course of the next year we will review how we deliver the arts programme at Dartington and the type of work we present."