Mark Benton to be TVA’s first Patron

Tees Valley Arts are delighted to announce that Mark Benton has agreed to be their first ever official patron. Tees Valley Arts is a charity based in Middlesbrough that has been delivering high quality arts projects across Teesside for nearly thirty years.

For example, in 2009/10 Tees Valley Arts delivered over 11,000 participant sessions – with children and young people (including those Not in Education, Employment or Training, young offenders, young parents, those in care and those with behavioural and/or other difficulties), with refugees and asylum seekers and with people with disabilities or other challenges in life. TVA has a great history of delivering science through the arts and in 2010 TVA secured Heritage Lottery Funding of £240K for environmental engagement and learning – working in 20 schools across the Tees Valley on the Green TV project.

Rowena Sommerville, Director of Tees Valley Arts, commented:

We are delighted that one of Teesside’s highest profile actors has agreed to be our first ever patron. I am sure he will be an inspiration to some of the participants on our projects, many of whom are interested in pursuing a career in the arts.

Mark Benton said:-

It is an honour to be asked by Tees Valley Arts to be their patron and I look forward to learning more about the great projects they run for the people of Teesside, particularly their excellent creative work with hard to reach groups and communities.