Bristol is set to receive over £11.75million capital investment from Arts Council England following announcements earlier today.

St George’s Bristol has been awarded £1.76million towards a £5.5million capital refurbishment project and Bristol Music Trust has been awarded £401,913 to develop a detailed funding bid for a potential £10million investment after a successful first stage application. If successful this will be the largest single capital award yet made in the south west.

This is a major step towards securing a world class arts and culture offer for the city, following previous large capital investments in Arnolfini and Bristol Old Vic. It will also enhance Bristol’s outstanding reputation for music.

The major redevelopment project at St George’s will ensure the organisation has the building and facilities that reflect the quality of their programme and, crucially, significantly improves both access and the visitor experience.

Suzanne Rolt, Chief Executive of St George's Bristol, said: ‘Funding from Arts Council England means we can go forward with confidence to transform this beautiful venue and to take it into the 21st century.

‘This project is about building a strong and financially sustainable future for St George’s Bristol. As a music venue, with some of the best acoustics in Britain, we already bring joy to people. This award takes us one step closer to our vision, and we are working hard with trustees and volunteers to raise further funds.

‘We are hugely grateful to Arts Council England and to everyone who has given their support to date.’

Bristol Music Trust’s £45million project will transform the iconic Colston Hall, creating a world class concert venue with modern, sustainable facilities. The transformation will form Phase Two of Bristol’s biggest ever redevelopment programme in the arts sector. The first stage involved the construction of the £20 million foyer space, which opened in 2009. Phase Two is planned to start in 2017 – the Hall’s 150th anniversary – and be completed in 2019.

Bristol Music Trust is one of only 16 organisations across England who have been invited to apply for Arts Council England’s large scale capital funding programme and theirs will be the largest single bid in this round of investment.

Louise Mitchell, Chief Executive, Bristol Music Trust, said: ‘This announcement is the best start to 2016 that our transformation campaign could wish for. It’s a huge vote of confidence from Arts Council England in our plans to redevelop Colston Hall and make sure it takes its place as one of the best arts and learning facilities in the country.

“The transformation will touch tens of thousands of lives. Our audiences and the children that we educate will benefit immensely from the new facilities. We’ll also boost the Bristol economy by tens of millions of pounds each year.’

Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England, said: ‘This is very welcome news for the arts in Bristol and the south west. Working in partnership with Bristol City Council, we have invested substantially in the city’s arts and culture, and we are seeing the impact as Bristol is increasingly recognised as a major creative hub with a rich artistic offer for residents and visitors alike

‘St George’s is an important venue with a significant programme that delights audiences from Bristol and much further afield and we are very pleased to be able to support them with this grant of £1,755,000 from our National Lottery funded capital programme.

‘We have also been in positive discussions with Bristol Music Trust, Bristol City Council and other partners as the plans for Colston Hall have developed because we recognise nationally that this is an important cultural resource that will truly be world class once this final stage of the refurbishment is complete. We look forward to receiving their second stage application.’