Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative MP for Gainsborough, has welcomed the announcement that West Lindsey’s Trinity Arts Centre is to receive a major cash boost from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
“The Trinity Arts Centre makes a huge contribution to our part of Lincolnshire,” Sir Edward said, “and the recent months have been exceptionally challenging.”
“I am thrilled that arts and culture will receive a boost thanks to taxpayer funding, helping organisations to plan for their eventual reopening while protecting jobs in the meantime.”
1,385 theatres, museums, performance groups and arts across England will receive a share of £257 million from the Government – part of a wider £1.6 billion Culture Recovery Fund to get the sector back on its feet after coronavirus. This funding will be used to help performances to restart, to allow venues plan for reopening and to protect jobs and create new opportunities for freelancers.
The awards are being made by the Arts Council England and comes on top of £103 million of emergency funding that has been distributed from the Culture Recovery Fund for heritage venues and £3.5 million of emergency funding for music venues.
This current round of awards covers grants of up to £1 million, meaning there is a particular focus on smaller organisations that play a central role in their local communities and will help to launch the stars of tomorrow. Others are already known around the world, such as the Cavern Club in Liverpool - which launched the Beatles, the internationally renowned London Symphony Orchestra and the Bristol Old Vic - the oldest continuously working theatre in the English language. Further grants and loans set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Sir Edward’s Gainsborough constituency has benefited from a total of £196,690 for the Trinity Arts Centre in this round of grants.
“This Conservative Government promised to protect lives and livelihoods throughout the pandemic,” Sir Edward continued, “and this latest support will help our vital cultural institutions to build back better after coronavirus.”
The Prime Minister has committed to supporting the arts and culture sectors through coronavirus, and, in addition to this latest funding, the Conservative Government has already provided unprecedented financial assistance, including loans, business rate holidays and participation in the coronavirus job retention scheme.
Also commenting, 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.”
