About Us

Dudley Arts Council was founded by the then Dudley Librarian over sixty years ago. It was formed to assist the Arts after the Second World War when there was little or no culture after the desolation of the war years.

The Arts now plays an important role in maintaining the vibrancy of our corner of the West Midlands and we encourage all art organisations to become members of DAC.

There are many benefits of membership

NETWORKING: with colleagues within your own art form. D.A.C. provides a forum for discussion with other organizations and individuals with similar interests, under the guidance of the art form representative, with the potential for joint problem solving, co-operation on planning, sharing of resources etc.

FEEDBACK: to Leisure Services (Dudley M.B.C.) on facilities and resources provided by local government, to minimise frustration, optimise utilisation and assist planning.

LOBBY: on amateur arts issues both within the borough and outside, to ensure that the social and economic importance of arts participation is properly recognised at all levels.

CO-OPERATIVE VENTURES: offering know-how, experience and in some cases, direct involvement in joint events, which may be beyond the scope of individual organisations.

TRAINING: in the form of day-to-day workshops on singing, writing etc. and meetings organised to bring in experts on particular related subjects such as marketing, grant application, repertoire etc.

Enable INITIATIVES by providing advice, experience and, in many cases, finance in the form of grants, guarantee against loss, or interest free loan.

ARTS AWARENESS: in the form of members meetings with guest presentations of youth theatre, arts for the disabled, the public art collection, the work of the Borough Artist etc.

SAFETY NET: for members in difficulty, by providing assistance with planning from an advisor within your art form, and depending on circumstances, temporary financial support.

Any group or person involved in the arts may apply for membership on a group or individual basis. We are here to assist members with information on their particular subject and to liaise with all groups, members and Councils.

This is a particularly difficult time for members with the introduction of new legislation and we will endeavour to see that the application of such is carried out fairly across the groups and that no group or member is disadvantaged.

Dudley Arts Council is neither part of Dudley M.B.C. or the Arts Council England. It is managed and organised by an executive committee made up of voluntary members, one from each of its eight groups, plus chairman, vice chairman, secretary treasurer and co-opted members, Dudley M.B.C. representatives and Dudley borough artist. The membership vote for elected members at the AGM, the Vice chairman being the outgoing chairman. The Executive meet four or five times a year with an AGM usually in December.