British Film Institute
- Emergency grants providing a lifeline to organisations supported by the Fund for the first time
- Emergency support extended over winter period so more applicants can come forward to protect jobs and plan for the future
- Funding welcomed by celebrities including Dame Judi Dench, Clive Owen, Rebecca Hall and Mike Leigh
Hundreds of arts, heritage and cultural organisations across England will receive a share of 107 million from the additional 300 million announced by the Chancellor at Marchs budget for the Culture Recovery Fund, bringing the total cash support package made available for culture during the pandemic to close to 2 billion.
The Culture Recovery Fund has already got 1.2 billion out the door to around 5,000 organisations and sites across the country and this latest round of funding is giving a lifeline to regional theatres, local museums, independent cinemas and many more throughout the winter.
From this round of funding, over 100 million will be awarded in continuity support grants to over 870 previous Culture Recovery Fund recipients administered by Arts Council England, British Film Institute, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England. Helping organisations survive and allowing them to resume programmes and events, the funding will mean people can have access to and enjoy everything they have to offer.
6.5 million will be shared by 57 organisations in need of urgent financial support. Grants from this emergency resource support will protect jobs by saving the future of important arts and cultural organisations.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:
Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where theyre from.
Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.
Theatres across the country will receive over 30 million in vital continuity support so they can keep their doors open and welcome audiences to pantos and plays this Christmas. Over 500,000 will support Derby Theatre to continue producing theatre for their local community, engaging young people and working with those impacted most by the pandemic. 71,000 is going to the Little Angel Theatre, a childrens puppet theatre in London, which will support their productions, as well as foster their school and community projects.
To make sure that everyone continues to have access to arts and culture, this funding will support creative, community-driven arts organisations and creative projects, to help nurture and sustain local talent. Over 390,000 will go to Arts at the Mill, Wigan, so they can continue to inspire through their ambitious creative initiatives, whilst a 35,000 grant will support Little Inventors in Newcastle to provide educational workshops to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said:
This continued investment from the Government on an unprecedented scale means our theatres, galleries, music venues, museums and arts centres can carry on playing their part in bringing visitors back to our high streets, helping to drive economic growth, boosting community pride and promoting good health. Its a massive vote of confidence in the role our cultural organisations play in helping us all to lead happier lives
Funding is also keeping projectors rolling in local cinemas this winter with 62 cinemas awarded over 6 million administered by the British Film Institute. Almost 85,000 will help The Alhambra, Keswick to introduce a new air filtration system and set up a new film club for local sixth-formers allowing them to curate their own film programme, learn how to operate the projector, and run the kiosk for two screenings per week. Over 102,000 is supporting the Forum Cinema in Hexham to continue its commitment to making the cinema as accessible as possible for all audiences, for example by increasing the number of open captioned / subtitled films for D/deaf audiences.
Ben Roberts, Chief Executive, BFI said:
Traditionally, this time of year brings a wealth of culture to the big screen for people up and down the country as local cinemas offer seasonal classics, and new British films and blockbusters. The Culture Recovery Fund has been vital to the survival and recovery of independent cinemas, enabling them to contribute to their high streets and communities, and crucially be there to welcome back their audiences.
The latest awards will continue to safeguard our most precious heritage and regional museums. A grant of 566,000 will give Exeter Cathedral the necessary financial support so they can continue to engage the local community through a packed calendar of activities such as historic costume character tours, festive family nights and Christmas carols in the Cathedral nave. 228,000 will also make sure Norfolk Museums Service can continue to inspire children and young people with its creative and engaging collections.
Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
This latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage has provided much-needed further support for Heritage sites, attractions and organisations as they move forward with their exciting plans to engage, entertain and educate us all. The UKs heritage has faced unprecedented times, and investing in the Heritage sector remains vitally important to driving tourism, supporting our wellbeing and making our towns, cities, and rural areas better places to live.
Of the 57 organisations awarded grants from the emergency resource support strand of funding, 44 are being supported with resource grants from the Culture Recovery Fund for the first time, with more applications undergoing assessment over the coming weeks. Recipients include Arty-Fact Theatre in Nantwich who will receive 32,000 to continue bringing innovative theatre to schools in the UK, and The Charles Causley Trust in Cornwall who are getting 95,000 to make sure they can carry on promoting creative writing and the arts in the local area.
Providing access to emergency funding throughout the winter period, the Emergency Resource Support programme will be reopened. This will give more applicants at imminent risk of financial failure an opportunity to bid for support, protecting even more organisations so that they can continue to create jobs and contribute to the economy. The application window will open shortly, and Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the British Film Institute will be publishing the details on their websites soon.
Todays announcement follows the second round of the Heritage Stimulus Fund - part of the Culture Recovery Fund - delivered by Historic England. Supporting 142 locations with a total of 35 million, historic sites will benefit from an injection of cash for vital repairs and major restoration work.
Those benefiting include Leigh Spinners Mill in Wigan, whose grant of 126,000 will help refurbish the fifth floor, repair the roof and engine house, and create a heritage store and a large multi-use space. This will also provide 20 new jobs and new opportunities for on-site work experience as part of their wider construction skills training.
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive, Historic England said:
The Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage schemes and the Heritage Stimulus Fund administered by Historic England continue to provide essential support for heritage and the arts across the country. The latest recipients indicate the breadth of organisations that are being saved as we emerge from the effects of COVID on our sector.
Additional quotes:
Dame Judi Dench, Patron of Omnibus Theatre, said:
Now here is some very good news. Small theatres such as Omnibus are the lifeblood of our industry, and this funding will be vital in continuing their brilliant work.
Clive Owen, Actor and Patron of Little Angel Theatre, said:
Im incredibly happy to hear that the Little Angel has received funding to support its future work. This theatre is very special and has been important to my family for many years.
Rebecca Hall, Writer and Director of Passing starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga, and star of Christine and The Awakening, said:
Growing up in central London I had access to a number of incredible local art-house cinemas, which gave me an education in and love of film. I think that only when we are together in a theatre can we really experience the enveloping power of cinema. Without that experience, I wouldnt be a filmmaker today. Unless we support independent cinemas, we will fail to nurture the next generation of British cinema.
Mike Leigh, Salford-born and BAFTA-winning Writer and Director of Vera Drake, Mr. Turner, Secrets & Lies said:
Growing up in North Salford in the 40s and 50s, there were 14 local independent cinemas within walking distance of our house - quite apart from the fancy big movie houses in Central Manchester, a short bus-ride away.
Each cinema showed two films in every programme, as well as shorts and newsreels. The programme changed o