Creative Arts East has given rural communities the chance to see live theatre performances and cinema screenings since 1994. With the charity celebrating its 20th birthday, it hopes to continue its good work into the future.

The charity enables villages to host live productions and performances and the film showings through its two main schemes: Live! and Village Screen.

The organisation is also involved in other schemes to help youngsters to become involved in the arts.

Elly Wilson, project portfolio manager and deputy director at CAE, said: 'We provide things to rural counties that they might not be able to have otherwise. Rural isolation is an issue for both young and old and having access to art and culture is important.

'We provide other projects, including recently becoming part of a creative employment programme, where 48 positions in the cultural sector will be offered to young adults.'

The future looks bright for the charity. Having lost its national portfolio organisation (NPO) status in March 2008 due to cuts to Arts Council England, CAE will once again be an NPO as of April 2015 and is set to receive £150,000 of core funding over the next three years.

'For Creative Arts East things are looking up. Through all the work we deliver we want to make sure we continue to give art to the underprivileged and rural communities because you can never have enough of art,' added Ms Wilson.

For more information about Creative Arts East, visit creativeartseast.co.uk

How important are charities and organisations to your local community? Email rebecca.murphy@archant.co.uk

History

Beginning as a touring scheme in rural areas in 1991, the Rural Arts Touring Scheme presented its first programme of 12 shows in six communities in 1992.

The scheme took off and the number of voluntary promoting groups began to grow. By 1993, it was agreed the scheme should be established as an independent organisation, and Arts in Rural Norfolk was set up as a limited company and registered charity in 1994.

During 2000, an idea was promoted that a number of Norfolk arts development organisations should merge to form one new organisation and in 2002 Creative Arts East was formed and moved to its current premises at Griffin Court, Market Street, Wymondham.