Former NPO strikes funding deal with Arts Council England

London-based charity Live Art Development Agency (LADA) has sealed a six-month funding deal from Art Council England (ACE) after being dropped at the last minute from the National Portfolio, it has been confirmed.

The organisation, which provides professional advice for artists as well as producing events and publications related to live art, had been offered a conditional three-year funding deal as part of the National Portfolio in November.

But last month it emerged that an agreement had not been reached and LADA would not be part of the portfolio.

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A statement issued by LADA's Board of Trustees says the organisation has now accepted a six-month funding offer from ACE.

It said the money will be "used to focus on internal developments" before it looks to re-enter the National Portfolio.

"LADA has already been working in close proximity with ACE to ensure this process comes to fruition as envisioned, confidently by both parties," the statement said.

"We thank ACE for their support and belief in LADA’s renewed vision and strength. More announcements on our public programme and organisational development will be shared in due course."

Valuable archive

A spokesperson for ACE said that it had previously invested in LADA as an NPO between 2018 and 2022 due to its important role in championing the development, research and advocacy of live art – supporting artists and work in the UK and internationally.

“Arts Council England has offered the organisation a funding agreement for six months, outside the portfolio," the spokesperson said.

"As such, we are working with the LADA to agree a way forward that both recognises the importance of the organisation but also protects their valuable archive for the sector and for future audiences to enjoy.”

The deal follows concerns raised by staff at LADA that the organisation's trustees were planning to close it down in the wake of being removed from the portfolio.

An open letter from LADA staff to the board of trustees – dated 5 May – criticised "dysfunction in governance" at the organisation over the past year and called for the recruitment of both new leadership and board members to help it resecure NPO status.

In response, the Board of Trustees accused staff of conducting a "campaign of misinformation and public shaming".