A SUCCESSFUL music and dance academy at Portishead Youth Centre may be forced to fold after funding for the project was cut.

The Rock Academy has been running at the Harbour Road centre for the last year and been funded by the Government's Find Your Talent programme.

The fourth academy is due to be held at the youth centre next month with about 50 teenagers expected to sign up to learn a variety of new skills from playing the guitar, dancing and recording music.

Over the last year about 160 students have signed up to the week-long academies which are held during the school holidays

But now the future of the initiative – and a similar academy project run in Weston-super-Mare – has been thrown into doubt after funding for the project has been cut.

Bosses at Portishead Youth Centre now face finding alternative funding if the project is to continue.

It costs about £3,500 to run a week-long academy, with the majority of the cash being used to pay for a series of professional tutors who come in and coach the children.

Portishead Youth Centre senior youth worker, Alan Rowe, said: "We are extremely disappointed that this funding has been cut.

"The Rock and Dance Academies at Portishead have been a huge success and have involved in excess of 160 young people.

"The idea of putting money into grass roots talent was an excellent one and I think it is somewhat short-sighted of the Government to cancel the funding.

"The academy gives young people the chance to learn new skills and build their confidence.

"We are now looking at alternative ways of funding the project in an attempt to ensure it continues in some format."

Performers from both Portishead and Weston-super-Mare's academies have gone on to perform at a range of venues.

Dance troupe Audacity – trained at Portishead Youth Centre – performed at the end of season party at the town's open air pool.

Bands created as part of project have also gone on to perform at youth events at the Winter Gardens in Weston-super-Mare.

North Somerset Council won £3 million in funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for funding to develop a variety of cultural activities for young people between September 2008 and July 2011.

Since its launch more than 20,000 youngsters and 84 schools have been involved with more than 250 projects, including exciting opportunities to work with cultural partners including the Royal Shakespeare Company, the London College of Fashion and Bristol Old Vic.

The budget for the third year of the scheme was £668,900.

Of that, £225,536 will be spent on projects – including the rock academies – that were already contracted prior to the closure of the Find Your Talent being announced.

North Somerset Council cultural programmer, Stuart Wood, said: "It's obviously very disappointing for us as we were entering the final and most exciting phase of work, but it's been particularly disappointing for thousands of young people whose projects have been cancelled.

"The effect of the loss of the programme will have a huge impact in North Somerset where there aren't many opportunities for young people.

"However, Find your Talent has left an important legacy and we will be doing everything we can to ensure that as much of the legacy as possible is protected as we close the programme down."

Despite the cuts, the Streetfest – a weekend celebration of young peoples' creativity on the Beach Lawns in Weston from September 10 to 12 – will still go ahead.

A Rambert Dance and Music workshop residency with the National Trust at Tyntesfield, Wraxall from August 23 to 27 will also go ahead as planned.

These events will be the final Find Your Talent projects though some key strategic pieces of work will continue until March 2011.

There are still places available at the Portishead Academy, which runs from August 16 to 25, are still available by calling 01275 842461.