Eden Arts is an Arts Development Agency based in the Eden District, funded by Eden District Council, Arts Council England, North West and Cumbria County Council. Eden Arts exists to promote, support, develop and advise on arts and cultural activity in the area. We are supported by a strong network of Friends of Eden Arts, local promoters and members of our management committee. The arts enhance our lives in many ways, and Eden Arts’ strong roots ensure that the arts flourish in Eden.

WHAT WE DO:
• Support and enable local professional, amateur and visiting artists to work within the local community and further afield
• Encourage local people to be involved in arts activities – as audience or participants
• Offer access to high quality arts events to all sections of the community by promoting our own events – e.g. visits by RSC, Northern Sinfonia, touring opera, theatre and dance companies – and giving assistance and advice to other promoters, including North Pennine Highlights (see below)
• Promote enjoyment of the arts for all ages, and develop new audiences, through education – including artists’ residencies in schools, community homes, hospitals, day centres and with community groups
  Provide information, advice, advocacy and expertise on all aspects of arts development, e.g. funding and marketing advice to local groups; research and consultancy work for other organisations
• Actively seek opportunities for integration of the arts with health programmes, tourism, community regeneration and education, working in partnership with local authorities, strategic partnerships, tourism organisations, NHS and the voluntary sector
• Hire portable sound and lighting systems to groups in Eden District. We also have a marquee available for hire
• Market and promote arts activities across the district through local press, TICs, notice boards, and our quarterly Arts Update newsletter
• Lobby and campaign for improvements in arts provision
• Give grants and guarantees to local promoters, for events, exhibitions, training bursaries and a variety of different arts projects in the community and in schools
• Support North Pennine Highlights, administered by Barbara Slack, the rural touring programme which brings theatre, dance and music events to village halls throughout Eden, South Lakeland, Teesdale, Weardale and Tynedale

Eden Arts is a Charitable Trust and our Management Committee, chaired by Keith Morgan, is made up of members of the local community, including representatives of District and County Councils and Arts Council England North West as well as from our own membership base of Friends of Eden Arts.

If you would like to know more about Eden Arts, please contact us.