WIREDGOV

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 recently (02 April 2021) announced the news, 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.

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