Over £261 million to support arts and culture
More than 2000 arts organisations are benefitting from a share of £261 million as part of round two of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced the news today, detailing over 2,700 organisations being offered nearly £400 million in grants and loans to help the culture and heritage sectors reopen and recover. This brings the Government’s total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion.
The Arts Council has awarded more than £261 million in grants to hundreds of theatres, music venues, dance companies, museums and festivals across the country, with more than 70% of funding going to organisations outside of London. These grants will help organisations welcome back visitors and return to normal operating models in the months ahead.
Glastonbury Festival will receive £900,000 to help the festival continue in 2021, with two smaller events this year, as well as carry the festival through to 2022. Meanwhile, almost £60 million has been awarded to help theatres plan for reopening in every corner of the country from the West End’s Criterion Theatre to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Museums across the country have also benefited in this latest round of funding. The London Transport Museum, which received £1,750,000 in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund, will get another £875,000 to help the museum reopen to the public in a Covid secure manner. The museum will also be opening new exhibitions and community projects, including hosting virtual sessions for schools and new virtual reality ways to enjoy exhibitions.
Comedy clubs, music venues and multi-purpose stages continue to be supported with award-winning Brighton venue Komedia, which usually programmed over 700 events a year to provide a platform for performers launching their careers, receiving £123,500 to resume socially distanced music, comedy and theatre performances. £213,853 will support the leading independent grassroots venue the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds to restart live events. Iconic venues like the Camden Roundhouse are also being supported with awards of £1,500,000 to welcome back audiences to live events.
DCMS have also offered a further £81 million in Repayable Finance to 24 nationally and internationally significant organisations receiving support in excess of £1 million, including English Heritage Trust, The Lowry and The Sage Gateshead.
The Lowry Centre Trust, the world class Salford-based arts centre, will receive £7.3 million helping the organisation to continue its community outreach programming and ensure that the LS Lowry collection is appropriately cared for. The North Music Trust, which operates the flagship music performance and artistic development The Sage Gateshead, will receive £3 million to support operational costs ahead of reopening and help the organisation to continue its valuable work including integrating its digital and in-person offerings.
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced. Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: “Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work. We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”
Dame Julie Walters, Patron of The Pied Piper Theatre Company, said: “As Patron of The Pied Piper Theatre Company, I’m delighted to hear that the company are being supported by the Arts Council’s Culture Recovery Fund. It’s tremendous that the value of their plays for audiences of young children are recognised.”
Romesh Ranganathan, comedian, said of Komedia’s award: “I’m absolutely delighted Komedia has got this funding. It means that it can continue to be the hub for both established comedy as well as nurturing new talent. This is great news for the area.”
At last month’s Budget, the Chancellor announced a £300 million boost for the Culture Recovery Fund, as part of a wider £408 million package for arts and culture taking direct government investment in the sector since the start of the pandemic stands at almost £2 billion. Further details on the third round of the Culture Recovery Fund will be available in due course.
