New NPO funding round to begin in the autumn

Arts organisations wanting to apply to Arts Council England (ACE) for National Portfolio funding from 2015 to 2018 will be invited to submit their applications in the first three months of 2014, though details of the criteria for funding will made available this coming autumn. ACE Chief Executive Alan Davey has admitted that funding levels may change or be denied to some current National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs), but applications from new organisations will be welcomed. On the distribution of money, he commented: “There is no benefit in ‘salami-slicing’ and spreading the funds too thinly to make a substantial difference to anyone.” Successful applicants will remain NPOs for three years, but ACE will not be able to confirm the exact level of funding throughout that period, as it will remain vulnerable to changes in the total value of grant-in-aid given to ACE by the Government.