KEY Government cultural funding has helped shine a light on the community work of a local arts organisation.

Haltwhistle Film Project works across the North-East and Cumbria with thousands of people a year using film and animation across heritage, health, environment and education.

It received a £12,900 grant from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund for heritage, and hopes the funding will help it improve its creative work in the local area.

Project owners Marc McKiernan and Vicky Jones have owned the company for more than 20 years and employ up to 15 freelancers a year.

However, Marc says, it is the vital work of freelancers that keeps the creative industry going.

With all work stopped overnight in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, Haltwhistle Film Project is fighting back to continue its community output and support the people it works with.

“We work with thousands of people each year,” Marc said. “The pandemic means smaller groups, distanced or remote working, and therefore more sessions to cover the same work with the same number of people.”

News of the Arts Council funding earlier this month was a huge boost, Marc said.

The grant will help develop new ways of working, continued working with freelancers and using time to examine own practice.

The project received further funding from the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner to support its work with FilmAble - the project’s learning disability production company.

Funding from the £12,900 grant will be used for extra sessions and more freelancer work and the project is constantly adapting to new technologies and Marc said the funding will help devise and implement new ways of filming and working remotely.

He explained: “Haltwhistle Film Project also provides invaluable education in special schools throughout the North-East and Cumbria, providing new technologies and opportunities previously inaccessible.

“Many of our client groups are particularly vulnerable, and have poor or no internet connection, making this a slow and complex task,” Marc said.

“Digital tech enables people with learning disabilities to make creative decisions which were previously in accessible to them. We are developing new ways to work in these environments with people who often have several additional vulnerabilities.”

A recent film the project helped produce in partnership with Hexham Priory School has been seen by more than 700 people, and working with local police forces has allowed the project to create films on county lines, sexual exploitation and cyber crime.

Alice Witherow, chief executive of the Tyne Community Learning Trust , said the creative industries are important for schools’ creativity. She said: “The arts have played an important role in all schools I have led. Artists must be ready when schools reopen to a wider population, for pupil’s well-being, and also their wider learning.”

Mark Newport, a freelance musician, praised the project in helping him find work. “I have had work from Haltwhistle Film Project many times over the last 15 years,” he said. “Small companies are the backbone of a real success story for a British Industry.”

But despite mounting uncertainty for freelancers, Marc McKiernan has reassured creatives they will provide support. He added: “These are difficult times for freelancers, and we are making sure we provide work and opportunities for them.”