Arts Organisations

Arts

Commissioning

Westminster City Council no longer administers the Annual Review Grants round. 

In 2011/12, 15 arts and cultural services which were previously funded through this grant, have been commissioned through a procurement process to ensure that our resources are targeted effectively and give greater certainty to providers.

Current commissioned organizations, and their contact details are listed below. 

Details of commissioned organizations for 2012/13 will be available on this page from April 2012.

Procurement process

CompeteFor   www.competefor.com  is the website which the Council uses to shortlist potential providers and to advertise larger contracts.  To stand a chance of winning contracts from the Council, organizations need to register with CompeteFor.  It features a simple, free registration process, and provides free access to a myriad of opportunities with major buyers from central and local government as well as the private sector.  

The Council has invited a number of potential providers (including existing providers) registered on the CompeteFor website to submit a quote for each of the contracts, which are worth less than £50,000.  To ensure equality of opportunities, organizations registered on CompeteFor may also be randomly selected to submit a quote for work in their area of expertise.

Please note that Council Contracts of larger amounts, between £50,000 and EU threshold levels, will be advertised openly on the CompeteFor website and suitably qualified providers may apply.

For other sources of funding, please scroll to the end of this page.

DreamArts

Performing arts programme at The Cockpit Theatre and a West End Theatre, targeting children aged 8-12 with English as a Second Language, and families in receipt of benefits.

Contact: Graham Whitlock

Telephone: 020 7266 8260

Email: graham@dreamarts.org.uk

Website: www.dreamarts.org.uk

English National Ballet

To provide preventative dance interventions for older people in day care settings, and to engage mobility impaired adults in an enjoyable physical activity.

Contact: Danielle Jones

Telephone: 020 7581 1245

Email: Danielle.Jones@ballet.org.uk

Website: www.ballet.org.uk

English National Opera

Based at the Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, ENO promotes an annual season of opera sung in English, in schools or community settings. ENO Baylis programme provides mini-internships for unemployed young people, a creative film project with vulnerable adults and a community choir.

Contact: Emily Cook 

Telephone: 020 7845 9583

Email: baylis@eno.org

Website: www.eno.org

Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)

The ICA provides participatory arts-based activity sessions to enable students with  mild/moderate learning difficulties  to access art and explore areas such as independent living and healthy eating, through photography, drawing and writing. The ICA also runs a work placement scheme for young adults with learning disabilities.

Contact: Adam Wilson

Telephone: 020 7766 1409

Email: adam.wilson@ica.org.uk

Website: www.ica.org.uk

London Print Studio

Based on Harrow Road, the studio has resources available to learn or use traditional print-making techniques and computer graphics. It runs short print courses for adults with moderate mental health issues, older people, local teaching staff and pupils in the local area. It also houses regular exhibitions of print work in its gallery.

Contact:  Nadia Yahiaoui

Telephone: 020 8969 3247

Email: nadia@londonprintstudio.org.uk

Website: www.londonprintstudio.org.uk

Paddington Arts

A youth arts service which runs a dedicated arts centre encouraging young people to use the arts for self-expression and career development. Paddington Arts offers termly workshops in drama, dance, singing and media for 6-26 year olds.

Contact: Steve Shaw

Telephone: 020 7286 2722

Email: steve@paddingtonarts.org.uk

Website: www.paddingtonarts.org.uk

Serpentine Gallery

Presents exhibitions of modern and contemporary art at the gallery in Hyde Park. The Gallery's Edgware Road project links local and international artists with the people who live and work in this area of London. 

Contacts:

Lee Rodwell:    020 7298 1532     lee.rodwell@serpentinegallery.org

Livvy Brinson:  020 7298 1509    oliviab@serpentinegallery.org 

Website: www.serpentinegallery.org

Soho Theatre

Soho Theatre is commissioned to provide participatory projects based mainly on creative writing for theatre, but also including theatre production for a range of ages. The theatre runs the new Soho Young Company, Soho Play Reading Group, Soho Reps, and work placements at its premises.

Contact: Don McCamphill

Telephone: 020 7478 0134

Email: don@sohotheatre.com

Website: www.sohotheatre.com

Streetwise Opera

Streetwise Opera aims to empower people who have experienced homelessness, through collaboration in staging professional opera productions and workshops, giving a platform for ideas and helping people to re-build feelings of self-worth and confidence. Streetwise Opera produces work of the highest artistic standard and raises awareness of homelessness by attracting a wide audience, proving that opera is for everyone.

Contact: Matthew Peacock

Telephone: 020 7730 9551

Email: info@streetwiseopera.org

Website: www.streetwiseopera.org

Union Dance

Westminster City Council supports Union Dance's dance education projects including choreography and multi-media with its youth dance group, Union Too.

Contact: Corrine Bougaard

Telephone: 020 7836 7837

Email: corrine.bougaard@uniondance.co.uk

Website: www.uniondance.co.uk

Vital Regeneration / FreqOUT!

FreqOUT!’s technology and digital arts workshops with young people explore the artistic applications of wireless technology as well as equipping participants with presentation and design skills.

Contact: Katy Haigh

Telephone: 020 7245 2261

Email: kchaigh@cwh.org.uk

Website: www.vitalregeneration.org/

Westminster Arts

A creative writing and visual arts programme for both older people with dementia and care staff, to explore the theme of Home and raise awareness of independent living.

Contact: Beth Cinamon

Telephone: 020 7641 1018

Email: beth@westminsterarts.org.uk

Website: www.westminsterarts.org.uk

Westminster Society for People with Learning Disabilities

Based in Harrow Road, the Westminster Society will run a range of group music sessions, one to one support and drop in activities for older people and young people with learning disabilities.

Contact: Lorraine Naughton

Telephone: 020 8968 7376

Email: lnaughton@wspld.org

Website: www.wspld.org.uk/

Wigmore Hall

A world-class venue promoting chamber music and song for children under 5 years to further their understanding and appreciation of chamber music.

Contact: Elizabeth McCall

Telephone: 020 7258 8249

Email: emccall@wigmore-hall.org.uk

Website: www.wigmore-hall.org.uk

Yaa Asantewaa Arts & Community Centre

A carnival arts programme of workshops, carnival costume exhibitions and an award-winning carnival band. 

Contact: Everton Counsell

Telephone: 020 7286 1656

Email:  everton.counsell@yaaasantewaa.com  

Website: www.yaacentre.com

Other Sources of Funding

Voluntary Action Westminster offers practical information, advice and support to voluntary groups. The low cost training courses include How to register on CompeteFor.

Grants for the Arts is the ongoing programme run by Arts Council England to fund arts activities that engage people in England, or help artists and arts organisations carry out their work.

The Film Fund is the production and development heart of the British Film Institute, supporting filmmakers in the UK who are emerging or world class and capable of creating distinctive and entertaining work.

The London Community Foundation primarily supports small community groups and charities in London. They offer funds on behalf of different donors, so you may apply to every programme for which your group is eligible.

Big Lottery Fund - Awards for All England offer grants of between £300 and £10,000 for projects that improve communities, and the lives of people within them. It is for voluntary and community groups, schools and health organisations, parish and town councils.

Big Lottery Fund - Reaching Communities England offers grants from £10,000 - £500,000  to fund projects that help those who are most in need.   The programme is open to applications: for more information telephone 0845 4 10 20 30 or email enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk

Art Quest  Opportunities section contains deadlines and dates listings for a huge range of arts and crafts events: including residencies, funding, international opportunities and  commissions.