From Janet Kipling, Exeter 383654, February 05, 2008

Devon County Council has welcomed the Arts Council's announcement of its latest round of regular funding for arts organisations based in the county - which will rise by 10% over the next three years.

Thirteen organisations in Devon are being given regular funding.

Eight have had their grants increased in line with inflation (Beaford Arts, DAISI, Dartington Plus, Forkbeard Fantasy, North Devon Theatres Trust, Theatre Alibi, Villages in Action and Wren Music), with three receiving increases above the inflation rate (Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Exeter Phoenix and Spacex).

On Friday the Arts Council announced that it had decided to maintain its £549,000 grant for Exeter Northcott for the next three years, despite an earlier announcement that it was to cut the grant which could have meant the closure of the theatre as early as this autumn. The level of funding for 2009-11 will depend on the outcome of a further Arts Council review to be carried out this year.

Executive Member for Culture, Councillor Sheila Hobden, said: "This really looks like a very good deal for Devon, coming on the back of the positive decision about the Northcott's funding. We are delighted that the Arts Council is championing Devon's cultural life with such commitment.

"Devon County Council remains firmly committed to our strategic objective of supporting and developing the county's cultural life, both to boost the economy of Devon and also to enhance the quality of life for people who live here."

Devon County Council invests in nine of the 13 organisations along with five others which do not receive regular funding from the Arts Council.

Arts Council grants in full:

For further details go to http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/regions/press_detail.php?rid=7id=1057