A live venue that aims to promote writing at the grassroots says it is “shellshocked” after discovering that its renewed bid for two-year funding has been turned down by Arts Council England.

The Spotlight club in Lancaster is re-applying to ACE as well as looking for other sources of funding  after being told that its bid was of “comparatively weaker artistic quality” in relation to others. Spotlight had asked for £27,870 - 76% of its total costs - to maintain its monthly live event, run workshops and surgeries, run two projects with younger and older writers and develop a writing groups forum.

On the third Friday of every month the event at the Storey in Lancaster gives a platform to poets, writers, comedians, ranters and musicians, and always starts with an open mic session. Leading poets who have performed there include Jacob Polley, Kim Moore, and Byron Vincent. 

Ron Baker, who with Sarah Fiske has run Spotlight for almost 20 years, said: “We have always aimed to promote writing at the grassroots; to give new and aspiring writers a platform to experiment and develop. Initially Spotlight began as a fundraising event for Lancaster's Litfest which, in 1995 was in crisis. Local writers rallied to give their time and readings for free and the funds raised went to Litfest. Out of that Spotlight grew as a breeding ground for new local talent.”

He added: “Between December 1995 and April 2009 we ran 155 Spotlights at the Yorkshire House and since May 2009 have run 66 at the Storey. Since we broke the news on Saturday we have received dozens of emails from supporters that testify to the value of Spotlight as an entertaining event and a forum for developing writers. These have been heartwarming and humbling in their outpourings of gratitude for Spotlight and genuine anger and dismay at the Arts Council decision.

“In recent years we have worked hard - often unpaid - to promote projects targeted at younger writers (14-24 years) and older writers (60+ years). These have been highly successful and have seen Spotlight take both young and old writers into community settings that get little or no exposure to writing or the arts. We have always been grateful to the Arts Council who, to be fair, have supported Spotlight for 15 years. We understand that times are hard and money in the arts is tight but Spotlight provides a unique forum in the north-west which it is hard to see being replaced.”

Spotlight has enough funds to continue until December. Ron Baker added: “We are determined that the event – some way or other  - will continue into its 21st year.”