The Arts Service is a small unit within the Stategy and Partnerships Division part of the Council’s Corporate resources Directorate. The Service currently consists of one full time Arts Manager and one part-time support officer.

The services key role is to proactively engage with the arts community to maximise cultural opportunities for both the sector and the residents in the borough. The Arts Manager provides advice and guidance on a range of arts and creative industry development issues.

It is the intention of the Arts Service to provide a single point of entry for arts organisations into the Council’s various departments and help other arts providers and creative industries navigate their way through our regulatory functions and find the development opportunities.

The service currently focuses on four key areas: the development of a strategic framework for arts and culture; the development of the creative economy; opportunities for children and young people; and opportunities relating to the 2012 Games. The service contributes to improving participation rates, the place making agenda, regeneration and individual and community capacity building.

The Arts Manager also manages the Council’s Community Festival Grants Programme and monitors the VCS Arts theme.