THE Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World (CCANW) has got a reprieve thanks to "overwhelming" support from the public.

Following an urgent appeal for donations and sponsorship last month, the arts and ecology charity, based in Haldon Forest Park near Exeter, reached its immediate target of £20,000, enabling it to re-apply to Arts Council England (ACE) and secure its survival.

After five years of continuous support from ACE, the centre was threatened with closure following an unsuccessful grant application.

ACE gave the centre an opportunity to re-apply, but only if it raised £20,000 in match funding during February for its 2010-11 programme year.

An overwhelming response from three South West trusts, and many individuals who joined the centre's friends scheme or made donations, made it possible for the CCANW to achieve its target and submit a re-application to ACE at the beginning of March.

CCANW director Clive Adams said: "We have been tremendously encouraged by the overwhelming public response to our appeal and we hope that it is sufficient to attract grant aid from the arts council and Devon County Council.

"The county council normally gives us £5,000 to £10,000 a year, but hasn't finalised its budget yet."

He added that the charity was "delighted" by some of the unexpected and generous donations received.

He said: "A lady from Belfast, who we didn't know at all but who might have visited us, gave us £1,000. Two other people gave us £500 each. It's surprising as it's quite a lot of money.

"The three regionally based trusts, which I can't name, gave a total of £12,000. One of the cheques arrived almost on the day we put in the application to the arts council."

He was also grateful to the environmentalists, politicians and others who showed their support for the centre.

These included the Forestry Commission, environmental advisor Sir Jonathon Porritt, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Ben Bradshaw; shadow minister for culture Ed Vaizey; Cllr Saxon Spence, of Devon County Council, and Cllr Alan Connett, of Teignbridge District Council,.

The charity is due to hear from ACE in the first week of April whether its re-application has been successful and it is safe for another year.

The organisation will need to raise another £52,000 by the end of next February in order to remain open, so it is continuing to urge individuals and businesses to donate or inquire about the wide range of sponsorship opportunities.

The CCANW claims it is hugely important for Devon, reaching thousands of families, schoolchildren and artists.

It claims that through its role of engaging people with the pressing environmental concerns facing the world today through dynamic, social and participatory activities, it is an irreplaceable asset to Devon and its fight to remain the greenest county in the UK.

It has also become a hub linking regional, national and international arts, ecology and education networks, universities and professional bodies.

The centre's programme, using the arts to show how people can live more sustainably within nature, has included year-round free exhibitions, workshops, events and activities for school and community groups.

Its current exhibition and series of forums, entitled Art, Ecology and the Economy, continues until Sunday, April 11, profiling creative businesses in the area and bringing together artists, designers, environmentalists and those from the wider business community.

Mr Adams added: "There has never been a more important time to engage people with the pressing environmental challenges the world is facing today.

"Education through the arts touches people — creatively and emotionally — in ways that conventional communication on such issues rarely does."

Details: www.ccanw.co.uk, phone 01392 832277 or email info@ccanw.co.uk.