A critically-acclaimed Bristol theatre company has got an

extra six months of funding from the city council – but then

its support will be withdrawn completely.

Show of Strength, based in Bedminster, is one of 15 arts

organisations that will miss thousands of pounds after the

council decided to change the way it dishes out arts

grants.

The ruling Labour cabinet approved the £735,000 arts,

festivals and events investment budget last night.

Show of Strength has staged a series of acclaimed shows, and

Mamma Mia! writer Catherine Johnson, who lives in Leigh Woods,

worked with the company on this year's street theatre

production Trade It?

The authority has funded Show of Strength since 1987, but

has pulled the £11,700 annual handout, saying it no longer

meets its criteria. The only concession, was that funding will

end at the end of the financial year, rather than this

September.

Another charity to lose its funding is Trinity Community

Arts, which runs the Trinity Road church venue in Lawrence

Hill. It had applied for £80,000 over three years.

Both groups criticised the application process and accused

the council of failing in its claim to make “open and

transparent” decisions.

Chairman of Show of Strength, Diane Kershaw, said: “It's a

great shame we had to resort to the Freedom of Information Act

to find out why we weren't approved and the reasons for

it.”

“We have been very efficient but have a very large

influence, nationally, internationally and regionally.

“The report says we may be able to apply for project funding

but that's only £10,000 for one year, and for a small company

you would spend all your time looking for other funding.

Emma Harvey of Trinity Community Arts said: “Trinity staff

and volunteers strive to develop the Trinity Centre as a

creative resource, and preserve a grade II* listed historic

landmark and one of the last independent music venues in the

country. “We work hard to build bridges and bring people

together through the arts, not just in Lawrence Hill but in our

local communities of Easton and St Paul's, across Bristol and

the region.”

Council leader Helen Holland accepted the criticism of the

way the application process had been handled and said lessons

would be learned.

Councillor Rosalie Walker, executive member for culture and

healthy communities, said: “We had £1.5 million worth of

applications come into this council for a budget of £735,000.

It's very sad when some groups don't get what they like, and if

we had more money they would do.

“We have been as fair as we possibly can.”