A DIVERSE theatre-making company in Coventry has won £100,000 of Arts Council England funding to expand and introduce a new professional touring strand.
EGO Performance Company based in Silver Street/Cook Street, near Coventry Transport Museum, offers a lively, inclusive and nurturing space where a young and diverse community can produce a dynamic and eclectic programme of arts, such as their latest production, Blink, which features a cast of actors with disabilities.
Georgina Egan, EGO Performance Company, said: “We’re really pleased to have received this grant. It will enable our creators to showcase and platform themselves in more venues across a wider geographical area, to an increased number of people drawn from broader backgrounds, and it will further develop and stretch the artistic integrity and creativity of our work.”
The funding is part of Arts Council’s Elevate programme, developed to enhance the diversity of the arts and cultural sector by strengthening the resilience of diverse-led organisations.
This round of Elevate sought to specifically address the under-representation of people with disabilities and people from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds across the sector, with all successful Midlands organisations being BME and/or Disability-led.
Since EGO was founded 14 years ago by Artistic Director and former actor Georgina Egan and co-founder Corrine Robinson, a writer and director the company has created 75 original theatre performances and short films, a program of music, stand up comedy gigs and cabaret.
New investment will allow EGO to expand its workforce and governance, increasing in numbers, skills and diversity.
This includes employing three new members of staff – a company manager, funding officer and a social media marketing officer, adding to their Board of Trustees, and implementing a training programme for trustees, volunteers and staff.
The organisation will also undertake a period of consultation and training to develop new creative and business partnerships and collaborations, increase work with the community, add a new professional touring strand to its portfolio and heighten its profile nationally and internationally as a disability-led arts organisation.
Peter Knott, area director at Arts Council England said: “Supporting and nurturing diverse talent is crucial to our work. Through Elevate we are investing in an exciting pipeline of diverse organisations, that make a vital contribution to the country’s cultural provision, and give a voice to those that are sometimes not heard.
“It is an exciting time for arts and culture in Coventry, with UK City of Culture 2021, so we are happy to be supporting local and diverse organisations like EGO Performance Company. I’m really pleased that our Elevate funding is helping to create a more inclusive cultural sector which produces work relevant to people from all communities and backgrounds.”
Arts Council England is investing £899,997 of National Lottery funding into nine diverse-led organisations across the Midlands, including in Leicester and Birmingham.
