Bolton: The Octagon received funding from Arts Council England

The theatre has  been granted £625,359 every year for the next three years from the organisation  as part of a wider national investment of £43.5m annually into the arts for the next three years.

The grant is part of the levelling up bid in the arts, culture and creativity industries so more people can benefit throughout the country and it not be so London-centric.

Arts Council England says it is keen to focus its investments on places that have historically been ‘underserved’.

Chief executive of The Octagon Roddy Gauld said: “We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support from the Arts Council England.

“It remains an incredibly difficult time for our sector as we continue to feel the legacy of Covid, and we navigate through the current economic climate. So, this is a welcome investment in the Octagon and the Bolton area.

Matthew Heywood as Peter Pan and Purvi Parmar as Wendy in Peter Pan at the Octagon (Image: Jonathan Keenan)

“This support will allow us to continue to make world class theatre right here in Bolton, and through our creative community work, provide exciting, life changing experiences for young people, families and older people.

“Theatre and the arts play a vital part in the wellbeing of our communities, and we are excited to continue our work in the coming years.”

Arts Council England hopes that by investing in places like The Octagon - which is often terms the jewel in Bolton's crown - it will help the arts to reach new audiences as well as helping to find and nurture the next generation of talent, increasing opportunity for people of all communities and backgrounds.

Arts Council England chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country.

“We are facing economic pressures at present, but this funding is about an investment in our future.

The theatre space (Image: Newsquest)

“This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists.

“In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.” 

A spokesperson for the Bolton Conservatives said: “The Octagon theatre in Bolton will benefit from £625,359 in new funding to level up access to arts and cultural organisations.  

“This funding will help the Octagon reach new audiences and increase opportunity for people from all backgrounds.”

The Arts Council's new national portfolio of funding for museums, libraries and other art organisations for 2023 to 2026,  includes new investment to 276 institutions that previously weren’t part of the programme.

It means a total of 990 institutions will share £446 million each year, up from 714 organisations previously, resulting in institutions such as the Donwar Warehouse and others seeing a cut to their annual funding, which has led to controversy.

Neighbouring The Oldham Coliseum missed out on funding. 

The theatre applied for £615,182 a year over the three years, totalling £1,845,546. Having been funded by Arts Council England for decades, the Coliseum said its current business model relied on this funding, and as such the theatre is having to look again at how it will move forward.