ARTS organisations and museums in Dorset have been handed more than £450,000 in funding.

Dorset Council’s Organisational Revenue Support Fund for Culture has awarded £486,000 to 28 organisations over the next three years.

A total of 41 applications were received from arts and heritage organisations and accredited museums, with £217,000 going to arts and heritage, and £269,000 to museums.

Laura Beddow, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for culture and communities, said the funding has been spread across the Dorset Council area to ensure residents and communities have cultural benefit across the county.

“I’m pleased that we have been able to help so many organisations to bring arts and heritage to all corners of the council’s area,” she said.

“It will make a lot of difference for the people of Dorset.”

A number of new organisations have been granted awards this time round, including the Mowlem theatre in Swanage.

The list of organisations and museums who received funding from Dorset Council

Paul Angel, chair of the theatre, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded a grant from the Dorset Council Organisational Revenue Support Fund.

“This is the first time The Mowlem has received revenue funding and it’s so valuable to us as a growing organisation, providing three years of reliable funds to help us develop our ambitions.

“We know that our community will be as thrilled with the news as we are.”

Zilla Brown, from Sturminster Heritage Trust, works with a volunteer team who manage both Sturminster Mill and Museum.

She said: “Our revenue grant form Dorset Council will make a really positive difference to our capacity to manage both our sites and our events and outreach programming.

“It means we can continue to conserve our iconic buildings, introduce new interpretation, and provide lots of learning and engagement opportunities for our young people and the wider community.”