Theatres, festivals and music venues are among those who will benefit
We’re all in need of some good news at the moment. So here’s some in the form of a well-needed financial boost to Liverpool’s arts world.
It's the biggest slice of funding to date from the Culture Recovery Fund
A raft of arts organisations including Parr Street recording studio, culture magazine Bido Lito, grassroots dance organisation Merseyside Dance Initiative and legendary music venue The Cavern Club have today received grants to support them through the coronavirus crisis.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Arts Council England has announced that 1385 arts and cultural organisations are to receive a share of £257 million as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
In Liverpool City Region, this investment will help 41 theatres, galleries, performance groups, arts organisations, museums and local venues.
This sector has felt the full force of the pandemic. With little hope of a return to normality in sight for the time being, the cash injection ensures they have a sustainable future.
The recipients announced today applied for grants of under £1 million in the first round of funding. The money received will help them create work and performances and plan for reopening.
It's the biggest slice of funding to date from the Culture Recovery Fund and the first in a series of announcements on the funding programmes administered by Arts Council England. Applicants for grants of over £1 million, as well as those who applied to round two of the fund and the Repayable Finance programme, will be notified of their outcomes in the coming weeks.
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.”
Sarah Maxfield, Area Director North, Arts Council England said:
“The pandemic has had a massive impact on the whole range of organisations working in the North’s cultural sector - theatres, music venues, festivals, museums and the companies who support them with technical sound, light and staging services. The cultural sector makes a huge contribution to The North’s economy, quality of life and communities. Today we are announcing much needed investment and support from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund to a group of organisations across the North - with more announcements in the coming weeks - providing an essential lifeline so the cultural sector can survive and come back strongly in the future.”
Michael Eakin, Chief Executive, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic said: “This support is very welcome and will be crucial in helping to sustain our vital arts and cultural sector through this difficult period.”
This announcement follows a backlash at the governments' suggestions that people who work in the arts should retrain, as well as numerous protests via #wemakeevents. While it is good news, it's clear that more is needed to support the many people out of work - through no fault of their own - in the arts and events industry, from ballet dancers to stage technicians.
We hope that more good news for the sector is imminent.
Full List of Successful Applicants across Liverpool City Region
Organisations | Amount Awarded |
Bido Lito! | £50,000 |
Bluecoat Display Centre Ltd. | £63,250 |
Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum Trust Ltd | £162,000 |
Cavern City Tours Ltd | £525,000 |
Chibuku/Circus Music | £365,000 |
Cinder House Publishing Limited | £136,977 |
District 61 Jordan Street Limited | £74,820 |
dot-art Services CIC | £52,810 |
Events Design Company Ltd | £75,000 |
Events With Intent LTD | £217,911 |
FACT | £58,357 |
Future Yard CIC | £60,000 |
Glasswerk Concerts | £74,487 |
Heart of Glass | £151,725 |
Icon Events and Productions Limited | £126,818 |
INVISIBLE WIND FACTORY LIMITED | £230,000 |
Laughterhouse On The Road Ltd | £96,357 |
Liverpool & Merseyside Theatres Trust Ltd | £389,352 |
Liverpool Irish Festival | £50,500 |
Liverpool Lighthouse | £81,272 |
Lumen Productions Limited | £82,478 |
Meraki Liverpool | £56,836 |
Merseyside Dance Initiative | £80,000 |
Merseyside Youth Association | £97,524 |
Parr Street Studios | £63,000 |
Phase One Liverpool | £69,582 |
Regal Entertainments Ltd | £313,080 |
Royal Court Liverpool Trust | £729,915 |
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic | £748,000 |
Shone Productions Ltd | £173,000 |
Smithdown Social | £155,000 |
SoundCity | £75,000 |
Stone and Carew Ltd | £53,530 |
The Atkinson | £203,934 |
The Bluecoat | £249,996 |
The Brindley Theatre (Halton Borough Council) | £230,660 |
Unity Theatre | £65,000 |
Valley Community Theatre | £60,000 |
Wired Aerial Theatre Ltd | £155,645 |
Writing on the Wall | £55,000 |
Zicon Entertainment Ltd | £100,000 |
Total 41 Organisations | £6,858,816 |
