The non-profit arts organisation Stour Valley Arts, based in the UK county of Kent, has announced it is to close, citing cuts in funding by Arts Council England. Founded in 1994 the organisation sought to link artists with the natural environment, gaining a permanent exhibition space in the ancient King’s Wood forest in 2011. In the financial year 2012–13 the national funding body awarded Stour Valley Arts £120,000, however by 2014–15 this had fallen to £114,992. In a statement Maggie Anwell, chair of the institution said ‘I am deeply saddened by this news, Stour Valley Arts has been a leader in the field of art in the environment and has been enormously valued by all those who have engaged with it, whether as artists or audience.’ The non-profit employed four members of staff.
4 February 2015
