We are delighted to announce that National Centre for Writing has received a grant of £131,545 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme.

As part of these 2021-22 and 2022-23 grants, over £22.7 million has been awarded to 66 cultural organisations across the country, including NCW. The Capital Investment Programme aims to help cultural organisations to transform their buildings and equipment so they can operate safely post-pandemic, improve access, seize technological opportunities, and reduce environmental impact. From Barrow-in-Furness to The Isles of Scilly, the organisations receiving funding share a vision to build a fit for the future cultural sector, which all members of their communities can access.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said:

‘World class creativity and culture needs a resilient and sustainable infrastructure to allow it to flourish. With these investments in the buildings, equipment, and digital systems of cultural organisations across England, we are helping to secure the future of that infrastructure and making sure that people from every part of the country can continue enjoying all the benefits it delivers for years to come.’

At NCW, we celebrate the artistic and social power of creative writing and literary translation with a programme that engages writers, literary translators and readers in projects that support new voices and new stories, and respond to the changing world of writing. The Arts Council England funding will help our organisation to improve accessibility on site for wheelchair and pushchair users, as well as funding the creation of a community space in one of the King Street facing rooms of Dragon Hall. Secondly, it will help us to upgrade our digital capacities so we can reach people more easily online.

Chris Gribble, Chief Executive, National Centre for Writing, said:

‘We’re delighted to receive this support from Arts Council England. It’s a signal of confidence in our plans as we mark Norwich’s tenth anniversary as England’s first UNESCO City of Literature and begin a year-long celebration, and a real commitment to the future of NCW and Dragon Hall as a resource for those who love writing in all its forms.’