North East Somerset Arts (nesa) fears that it may have to lay off staff and cut its local projects because of a £25,000 shortfall in funding.

The community arts group, which runs projects to help vulnerable groups such as those with mental health difficulties or hard to reach young people, says that its income from trusts and foundations has dwindled as a result of the recession and public sector funding is likely to fall from next year.

Describing the shortfall as a “crisis,” nesa director Lesley Featherstone said,” There is much less money available this year, and more people going for it.” The arts organisation, which has been working with artists on small community based projects since 1981 is not a regularly funded organisation, but received money from the Arts Council’s Grants for the Arts awards and from the local council.

But Ms Featherstone said the local authority had also warned of cuts in non-statutory provision from next year. “That presumably means us.” Funding for youth projects with nesa had been cut 18 months ago, she said.

Unless the shortfall is bridged, nesa will have to shed jobs and her own post would have to go part-time, she said.

ENDS