As well as providing direct services and funding, the Arts Development team is also responsible for developing the council’s policy towards arts development.

 

In addition to supplying funding and support to artists and projects, Essex County Council also plays an important role in supporting arts venues and organisations across the county, often in conjunction with district and borough council arts departments. The following venues and organisations all receive some or all of their funding directly from Essex County Council:

 

 

The work of the Arts Development team is informed by the Space to Work document, which contains Essex County Council’s strategy relating to the arts. We also co-ordinate Creative Consequences, a long-term research project that demonstrates the social and economic benefits of the arts in Essex. The last published review of the project was in 2010 and is available online.

 

A new review of the survey is now under way. Take part in the survey online. In 2009/10 the economic climate and landscape of the arts was quite different to what it is now. We are therefore undertaking a review of the Creative Consequences survey to gauge this change and help demonstrate the benefit of the arts in Essex.