YORK’S arts barge has been named as one of six outstanding projects in its field for this year, helping pave the way for further funding.

The project has won recognition through the Cultural Entrepreneur Programme as one of six “outstanding entrepreneurial arts business ventures”.

The Arts Barge Project is a not-for -profit arts business working with local communities and hoping to fund a permanent barge on the River Ouse to be used as a base for artists and performers.

It has been operating for five years for individual events and occasions, working with more than 350 performers and becoming a respected contributor to the city’s cultural scene.

It offers “music, theatre and visual arts in an informal, fresh and accessible style”.

The programme is funded by Arts Council England and delivered by Yorkshire Visual Arts Network (YVAN), with support from the Contemporary Art Society.

Steve Manthorpe, YVAN co-ordinator, said the participants were from across the region.

He said: “The (Cultural Entrepreneur) programme will help them to realise their ambitions to create new businesses or expand existing ones and in doing so, attract additional revenues into the cultural sector.”

The Arts Barge Project has been supported by City of York Council and now hopes to attract further investment from the private sector to complete the purchase, renovation and mooring of a barge as well as extending its work.

They say the scheme will help the city meet its aims of attracting business and investment and improving usage of the river.

Marcus Romer, creative chair of Science City York Advisory Board and artistic director of Pilot Theatre, said: “An innovative city drives forward its growth and projects such as the Arts Barge Project promotes this, as well as adding to York’s rich offer for tourists and visitors.”

A pilot project on the river in summer 2011 included a wide range of events involving 180 artists and an audience of more than 3,000. The project team have also worked with other events and organisations, including the Galtres Festival and Grand Opera House.

The Arts Barge will contribute to the city’s summer events programme between July 19 and 21.

During the day there will be music, dance, story and art-making with various workshops and open sessions. Evening events will be ticketed at a low price and include A Really Short Fringe, a night of fresh clippings from York Theatre Companies.

Saturday evening will be a dress up Vintage Dance occasion and Sunday evening will combine comedy, music and film.

There are also monthly Sunday afternoon Gypsy Jazz sessions at The Golden Ball pub in Cromwell Road.

For more information, visit theartsbargeproject.com