Child in Phoenix digital art workshop

Phoenix awarded £320,000 Arts Council funding

27/06/2017
Phoenix has been awarded £321,856 funding over four years from Arts Council, maintaining its position as one of their National Portfolio Organisations.

Press release – 27 June 2017

Leicester’s Phoenix awarded £320,000 Arts Council England funding in recognition of digital art excellence

Leicester’s Phoenix cinema and art centre has been awarded £321,856 funding over four years from Arts Council England (ACE), maintaining its position as one of their National Portfolio Organisations which demonstrate best practice and excellence in the arts.

The funding will enable Phoenix to continue its programme of free exhibitions, events and educational activities exploring the relationship between art and technology, and bring acclaimed international artists to Leicester while also providing vital support for local practitioners.

Announced by ACE today, the newly-awarded funding will begin in April 2018 and is a continuation of funding Phoenix has received since 2012.

“This is fantastic news for Phoenix and Leicester,” said Alan Tuckett, Chair of Phoenix. “With Arts Council England’s support, our art programme has developed rapidly with thousands of people engaging with work by digital artists from across the world.

“Maintaining the level of funding we receive at a time when public funding is under significant pressure is a huge endorsement of the quality and ambition of our work.”

Upcoming activities at Phoenix made possible by existing ACE funding include weekly free summer workshops for children to get creative with digital technology – making DIY musical instruments, holograms and 3D printed designs.

They also include regular exhibitions in Phoenix’s Cube gallery, currently showing Playback – a national touring exhibition created in association with Channel 4 – that brings together over 150 short films made by young artist filmmakers.

Phoenix became a National Portfolio Organisation in 2012 and, with the support of Leicester City Council and De Montfort University, has taken an increasingly prominent role in developing Leicester’s cultural offer.