Annual Impact Report 22/23 and a new phase of funding

Creative United, a leading UK social enterprise that focuses increasing access and inclusion in the arts and creative industries, has today published our Annual Impact Report for the year 2022/23.

The publication of the report coincides with the commencement of a new funding agreement with Arts Council England that will see our flagship programmes, Own Art and Take it away, funded through to the end of March 2026.

Creative United is delighted to receive new funding from Arts Council England to continue our national consumer credit schemes, Own Art and Take it away. These programmes provide increased access and inclusion in the visual arts and music sectors through the provision of interest free loans for the purchase of musical instruments and contemporary works of art and craft.

Mary-Alice Stack, Chief Executive at Creative United said:

“We are hugely appreciative of Arts Council England’s renewed commitment to the development of the Own Art and Take it away schemes as an important and effective mechanism for increasing access and inclusion for artists and musicians across the country. We are excited about the programme of work that we’ll be delivering over the next two years working in collaboration with other organisations to make the arts both accessible and affordable for as many people as possible.”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive at Arts Council England said:

“At Arts Council England, we want every person to be able to enjoy culture and develop their own creativity, wherever they are in the country.  Own Art and Take it away have helped thousands of people to do that over the last decade, and we’re pleased to announce further investment to enable Creative United to continue their brilliant work running these programmes.”

Own Art and Take it away are both long-running initiatives and have been operated by Creative United since the company was established in 2013 with support from Arts Council England. The schemes have proved highly successful as a mechanism for supporting artists and musicians to develop and grow their creative practice, as well as being of benefit to the network of more than 450 galleries and music shops across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland that offer the service to their customers as members of the schemes.

Details of Creative United’s plans for the relaunch of the Take it away scheme and Own Art 20^th Anniversary celebrations are due to be announced in spring 2024.

Any questions or requests for further comments should be directed to Siobhan Garrigan, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at Creative United, siobhan.garrigan@creativeunited.org.uk.