Chancellor praises Lincoln’s £20k Magna Carta funding

Lincoln is one of ten recipients of the first round of the Magna Carta Funding, with Chancellor George Osbourne backing the bid to raise the profile of Lincoln’s historic relationship with the document.

The Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Commemoration Committee announced the first round of grants on from the £1 million provided by the Chancellor in his Budget Speech.

The City of Lincoln Council and the University of Lincoln’s Artist in Residence Programme received £20,000 of funding.

The money will allow artists to explore, with Lincoln’s communities, the contemporary issues that relate most strongly for them around the principles set out in Magna Carta 800 years ago.

The first grants announced followed detailed bids submitted by destinations across the country that have a direct link to the Magna Carta and other organisations associated with the Magna Carta Trust.

In total, the 800th Committee’s allocation provides £186,965 to ten organisations. It is expected that this funding will help to support more than £600,000 worth of activities planned by the successful bidders.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, said: “I am very glad the historic city of Lincoln was successful in its bid for funds to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.

“Karl McCartney MP has been a very strong supporter of the bid and kept me fully informed of the proposals to celebrate Magna Carta in Lincoln. From talking to Karl, I know the plans are very ambitious with an attempt to bring the arts to all sections of the local community and this outreach is essential.

“I am sure it will be a success for the city and I wish all the stakeholders involved the very best in the preparations over the next year.”

Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney, added: “The Artist in Residence Programme will be an exciting opportunity to reach disadvantaged communities often neglected by major arts and City-wide projects and bring people in to engage with the themes and inspiration of Magna Carta.

“The programme aims to attract highly regarded artists with an international profile who will raise the profile of the Magna Carta and Lincoln’s historic role and heritage.

“The city council, together with the University of Lincoln, put forward a fantastic bid and I am pleased that the representations I made to Mark Gill and Sir Bob Worcester, the Executive Director and Chairman respectively of the Magna Carta 800th Committee, have been successful.”