Arts Council England (ACE) has awarded more than £1.2m worth of grants to 11 cultural organisations in the third round of its Strategic touring programme.

The initiative is designed to increase access to the arts throughout the country, particularly in areas where engagement levels are currently low and where there is a reliance on touring.

ACE is currently halfway through the inaugural year of the Strategic touring fund, which has seen more than £5.7m distributed to arts organisations out of the total £15m allocated for the year.

Among the successful applicants in the third round is a nationwide tour of artistic work by dead and disabled artists led by DaDa, as well as a touring workshop that is being fronted by Home Live Art.

An ACE spokesperson said: "The programme aims to facilitate stronger relationships between arts organisations with local promoters, who are on the 'supply' and 'demand' side of touring."

Click here for more information about the latest funding awards made under the Strategic touring programme.