TWO arts organisation have been awarded more than £1.5million to carry on their work over the next four years.

Arts’ Council England announced that Focal Point Gallery, in The Forum, Southend, will receive £745,536 over four years. Metal, based in Chalkwell Park, will receive £753,837, which also covers their operations in Liverpool and Peterborough.

Since it started its operations in Southend, Metal has most notably delivered the annual festivals Village Green, Village Beach, NetPark and Estuary Festival.

Focal Point Gallery has provided an internationally recognised programme of exhibitions and offsite projects, as well as the Radical Essex project, since opening in the town more than 25 years ago. It was previously based in Southend Central Library.

Colette Bailey, artistic director of Metal said: “It’s fantastic news that Arts Council England have continued to invest in the cultural life of Southend in this way. We look forward to continuing our work with local, regional, national and international artists working in all disciplines to build ideas and creative projects with people of all ages and from all walks of life across South Essex.”