More than 1,300 arts and cultural organisations are to receive a share of £257 million as part of a vital financial boost from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced today.
The news has been welcomed by Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage, who also is Minister of State for Digital and Culture, and helped secure this funding.
Cultural institutions and organisations across the local area are set to benefit. This includes funding for the Hampshire Cultural Trust, who run local organisations such as the Gosport Gallery & Search which Caroline recently visited, and the Hampshire Music Service who teach music classes in many of our schools. In addition, venues such as the Kings Theatre, Titchfield Festival Theatre, Portsmouth Guildhall and the Mary Rose Museum will receive a funding boost.
Caroline commented:
“Today’s announcement is good news for many of our cultural institutions across our area who have hit by the impact of Covid19”.
“I'm very proud to be Minister responsible for arts in Government and to help secure this funding. I will continue to fight to save our cultural institutions and the jobs that depend upon them.”
Across the country, the investment will save 1,385 theatres, galleries, performance groups, arts organisations, museums and local venues facing the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and ensure they have a sustainable future. It is the biggest tranche of funding distributed to date from the Culture Recovery Fund.
This funding will help allow performances to restart, venues to plan for reopening and to protect jobs and create opportunities for freelancers.
Those organisations who are set to receive funding will find out this morning from distributor Arts Council England (ACE) what they will receive. Today’s recipients are those that applied for grants of under £1 million in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country - from the Beamish museum in County Durham to the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Bristol Old Vic.
“This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”