£257 million to better support cultural organisations

More than 1,300 arts and cultural organisations are expected to benefit from a share of £257 million as part of the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said that the funding, the biggest tranche of funding distributed to date from the Culture Recovery Fund, bringing the total amount of grant funding awarded so far to more than £360 million, will help 1,385 theatres, galleries, performance groups, arts organisations, museums and local venues survive the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisations that applied for grants under £1 million in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund have been informed of their awards by Arts Council England which is distributing funding on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Further funding for organisations is due to be announced in the coming days and weeks.

The government says that this funding will help allow performances to restart, venues to plan for reopening and help protect jobs and create opportunities for freelancers.

Dowden said: “The government is here for culture and we have worked around the clock to get this record investment out to the frontline. It will allow our wonderful theatres, museums, music venues and cultural organisations to survive this crisis and start putting on performances again - protecting jobs and creating new work for freelancers. This is just the start - with hundreds of millions pounds more on the way for cultural organisations of all sizes that still need our help.”