Arts Council England announces National Portfolio Organisations

NPOs are companies which receive a share of £409 million each from ACE between 2018-22. This is a £37 million per annum increase on the previous investment period (2015-18), and includes £341 million of grant-in-aid and £68 million of National Lottery funding. This was also the first time museums and libraries could apply for funding as well as arts organisations.

There are now 831 organisations in the portfolio, up by 183. The four largest organisations that have been added to the portfolio are Arts & Heritage (PHC), One Dance UK, The Audience Agency and Without Walls (which receives the largest largest investment into outdoor arts).

English National Opera is among the companies who have re-entered the National Portfolio. It re-enters after missing out for the previous period. Artistic director Daniel Kramer said: "It is thanks to the dedication and commitment of every single one of my colleagues that we have been able to secure our future."

Emma Rice's new company Wise Children, which will be based in the south west, has also entered the Portfolio, as well as Yellow Earth and 1927.

Just over 60 per cent of funding is now based outside of London, up from 55.8 per cent in 2015-18.

Other companies which have been awarded NPO status for the first time include British Paraorchestra, a large-scale professional ensemble for disabled musicians, Action Hero, Chris Goode and Company, Common Wealth, Ballet Black and Mikron Theatre Company.

There are also increased grants for existing NPOs including Kneehigh Theatre, Talawa and Rifco.

The National Theatre will receive less funding per year. It was receiving £17.2m in the previous period, and will now receive £16.7million per annum.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that @1927productions are a new #NPO awarded #NPO #artsfunding #ACEfunding 2018-2022.

— 1927 (@1927productions) June 27, 2017

We are delighted to share that we have re-entered @ace_national‘s National Portfolio. Thank you to everyone whose work made this possible.

— EnglishNationalOpera (@E_N_O) June 27, 2017

Delighted we are #NPO with increased funding. Great news for audiences & region. So pleased ACE has recognised artists across all England

— Kneehigh (@WeAreKneehigh) June 27, 2017

We’re delighted to continue being an @ace_national NPO alongside so many hard-working arts orgs. #ACEfunding #creativecase pic.twitter.com/fYlc6SRSlD

— Talawa Theatre Co (@TalawaTheatreCo) June 27, 2017

Thank you to @ace_national for making us a #NPO. We’re super chuffed and excited for the future! #ACEfunding

— The Yard (@YardTheatre) June 27, 2017

Congrats to @MiddleChildHull @HullTruck @FreedomFestHull @JNightJazz & @Hull_Museums on their @ace_national #ACEfunding news this morning! pic.twitter.com/wC1S7PHXZE

— Hull City of Culture (@2017Hull) June 27, 2017