ARTS groups throughout the area are to benefit from increased funding.

The cash injection is part of a 21 per cent rise in spending by the Arts Council England's West Midlands office.

One group which will benefit is Arts Alive. The Welsh theatre group tours rural communities in Herefordshire, and has staged productions at venues in Whitbourne, Bosbury and Ledbury.

Arts Alive's live co-ordinator, Sian Allen, said the money, a four per cent increase in its grant to £55,167 by 2005-06, may be used to take live performances to more communities.

Ludlow-based theatre group Pentabus, which tours in rural communities, hopes its five per cent increase in funding, to £175,814 in 2005-06, will help it invest in its large-scale, outdoor performances.

Hereford Courtyard Theatre will use its five per cent funding increase, to £162,882 by 2005-06, to support its theatre production.

Birmingham's Ikon Gallery, which was jointly set up in 1964 by Malvern artist David Prentice, receives a 12 per cent budget increase to £883,088 in 2005-06.

Other local groups to benefit are Collar and Tie, in Worcester, a five per cent increase to £66,995, Dance Fest, 47 per cent to £30,750, the Hereford Photography Festival, 131 per cent to £50,636, Ross-on-Wye International Festival, five per cent to £53,477, Worcester Arts Workshop, five per cent to £24,359 and the Royal Shakespeare Company, 5.5 per cent to £14 million.

The increase in spending comes from a rise in the Government grant to the Arts Council, which will receive an extra £75 million a year.