PRIDE OF PLACE. HOW THE LOTTERY CONTRIBUTED 1BILLION TO THE ARTS IN ENGLAND

Since the arrival of the National Lottery in England, hundreds of people have become millionaires and billions of pounds have been allocated to 'good causes' such as the arts, sport and heritage. The Arts Council of England alone has invested over 1 billion pounds of lottery funds in a wide variety of projects, from drama, music and dance to public art and literature. All over the country, existing arts buildings have been renovated and new ones built; brass bands have received new musical instruments and theatre companies have bought new vans. A host of architects have achieved international recognition for their designs, and England has seen the largest new programme of public art for a century. Yet despite this windfall, there have been brickbats as well as bouquets for some schemes from the press and the public. In Pride of Place, writers including Penelope Lively, Jatinder Verma and Garry Mulholland, visit projects all over the country to find out how the lottery has changed the arts in England.