36 Lime Street Secures Major Investment from Creative Foundations Fund
We’re delighted to announce that 36 Lime Street has been awarded £847,932 from the Creative Foundations Fund, part of the Government’s Arts Everywhere Fund, delivered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
This significant investment will support a programme of essential capital works to safeguard the future of our building and expand what we’re able to offer as one of Newcastle’s longest-running artist studio collectives.
The funding will enable us to make the building more accessible, improve energy efficiency, and reconfigure part of the existing space to create a new communal workshop and education room. These developments will help us to better support the 50+ artists currently based at 36 Lime Street, while also opening up new opportunities for young people, schools and the wider community to engage with creative activity in the building.
For over 30 years, 36 Lime Street has provided affordable studio space and a supportive environment for artists working across a wide range of disciplines. Mike Mould, who set up 36 Lime Street in 1983 would have been delighted with this investment as it marks an important step in ensuring that the building can continue to serve artists and audiences for many years to come.
We are incredibly grateful to Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for their support, and proud to be included alongside other cultural organisations across the North East benefiting from this round of funding.
We would also like to extend our thanks to Steven and the team at Ability Consultants, whose guidance and expertise have been instrumental in securing this award. As Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:
“I want everyone, everywhere to feel a sense of pride about where they come from. Cultural organisations across the North East are important custodians of local identity and play a key role in the story we tell ourselves as a nation. Our Arts Everywhere Fund is delivering on our commitment to support cultural assets across the country, increasing access and preserving them for future generations.”
Rebecca Ball, Area Director, North at Arts Council England, added:
“Our museums, libraries and arts organisations have the power to change lives… this capital investment will ensure that they can continue to deliver incredible arts and culture to their communities.”
This funding brings us closer to our long-term aim of making 36 Lime Street a fully inclusive, accessible and sustainable space—one that continues to support artists at all stages of their careers while welcoming new audiences into the building.
Further updates will be shared as the project develops.
