News and Reviews

News: sinfonia ViVA secures Three-Year Funding Deal
February 2008

sinfonia ViVA, the East Midlands' only professional orchestra, has secured a three-year increased funding package from the Arts Council.

The Orchestra will receive a 22.7% increase in its funding for 2008/2009 – bringing its grant to £180,000 for the year and then inflationary rises of 2.7% over the next two years. This makes a total for the three years of £554,710 against £428,575 for the previous three year period (2005/06 – 2007/08).

ViVA Chief Executive Peter Helps welcomed the funding announcement and explained that this would enable the Orchestra to progress with its ambitious plans: "A major criterion for the Arts Council is the quality of work among Arts organisations and this funding increase therefore recognises our commitment of bringing top quality classical music to a wide range of people backed by a robust management structure. We can now forge ahead with our plans to raise our musical standards even higher and push the boundaries of creativity and performance - whether that is working with school children to give them the opportunity to create music and perform it on stage alongside nationally-recognised professional musicians; working with businesses to enhance their employees' creativity through bespoke workshops or performing at the region's major concert venues alongside internationally renowned artists."

"It is vital that we develop and grow to ensure that we remain a vibrant and relevant organisation in the 21st century and this three year funding commitment gives us the stability to forge ahead with our medium and longer term plans. These include maximising the regional, national and international opportunities that are widening since the recent arrival of our new Principal Conductor André de Ridder and broadening the horizons of our acclaimed work with local communities and, in particular, young people from all educational backgrounds."

"This is an excellent way of starting the new year for the Orchestra and we are now confident that it gives a positive message to our other funding partners."

For further information please contact Simon Millward at Albion Media, 020-7629-3252 simon@albion-media.co.uk