Lighthouse Poole is to continue receiving financial support from Arts Council England.

The arts and entertainment venue has retained its status as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO).

It will receive £348,510 a year for the next three years, accounting for about eight per cent of the annual income of Lighthouse.

The allocation enables Lighthouse Poole to continue to deliver a wide-ranging arts and entertainment programme for the communities of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, as well as the wider region.

It will support creative talent development, providing learning and education opportunities for young people through partnership schools and Lighthouse Academy programmes, and support professional artists to develop their craft and reach wide and diverse audiences.

Elspeth McBain, Chief Executive, pictured left, said: “Lighthouse is enormously grateful for the ongoing support of Arts Council England (ACE) and is proud to retain its status as a National Portfolio Organisation in this challenging time.

“This news has come at a crucial moment as, in common with venues across the country, Lighthouse is still in recovery from the pandemic and that recovery remains a priority.

“Audiences are returning, but not yet at the same levels pre-pandemic, and venues are facing a perfect storm of increased operating costs, a cost of living squeeze on audiences, soaring energy prices and deepening economic hardship, so there are enormous challenges ahead.

“The NPO funding means Lighthouse can now forge ahead with its plans to deliver on Let’s Create, the Arts Council’s ten-year strategy, supporting their key investment principles by ensuring our work is inclusive and relevant to our communities, ambitious and dynamic.

“Lighthouse remains committed to presenting high quality productions and artists, bringing to our community vibrant and wide-ranging cultural experiences which are different every day.”

NPOs are companies which receive a share of ACE’s funding allocation between April 2023 and March 2026.

As one of 990 NPOs receiving a share of £446 million, Lighthouse is considered one of the country’s cultural leaders.