The Rose Theatre has been snubbed for funding once again by the Arts Council.

The High Street venue missed out on new investment through the national portfolio organisations programme (NPO), which will see more than £487m handed out to 247 arts organisations across London over the next three years.

Richmond's Orange Tree theatre was also turned down for cash, although the Stanley Picker Gallery and ballet group BalletBoyz are being funded. 

Rose chief executive Robert O'Dowd said the theatre would continue to explore funding options in a bid to make itself more self sufficient, and less reliant on the £500,000 a year service level agreement with Kingston Council.

He said: "We felt it essential for the Rose to always look at all sources of funding to enable us to maintain our high standard of programming, education and outreach work and a relationship with the Arts Council could have been a key element of this.

"While we were unsuccessful, we were extremely heartened by the positive feedback we received, and the progress we have made in the past year in terms of our programming and business model.

"We continue to look to ways in which to make ourselves increasingly self-sufficient – through trusts and foundations, corporate support, as well as a loyal core of local support both from individuals, Kingston University and the council.

“It is a key time for the theatre in our area – in these latest cuts, the Orange Tree lost its NPO status, but through mutual support amongst our venues, and the amazing patronage of our committed theatre going community, I have no doubt that our local cultural hub will continue to go from strength to strength.”

It is not the first time the Rose has been turned down for Arts Council funding, although it has received strategic funding in the grants.  

In 2011, the theatre was one of 638 organisations turned down for extra cash by the Arts Council, after the body had its own funding cut by 30 per cent by the Government.

For more on the shows, the reviews and the back-stage politics of the Rose visit surreycomet.co.uk/rosetheatre