John Stevenson MP welcomes £545,800 of new investment for Carlisle, as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF), which was announced by the Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden MP on Monday. This fund will help cultural organisations to face the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and it will ensure that the arts have a sustainable future.
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery and the Audio Collective, both in Carlisle, are two of the 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country to be receiving the urgently needed support. The two Carlisle organisations will be receiving £545,800 in investment, to ensure that they will be able to reopen at full capacity once restrictions and social distancing measures are lifted.
£257 million of investment was announced on Monday, as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks. This follows the Government having already awarded £3.36 million in emergency funding to 136 Grassroots Music Venues across the country.
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. 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.”
Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”
John Stevenson said: “I am delighted that both Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, as well as the Audio Collective have been awarded funding from the Government, to ensure that they remain open, following the Covid-19 pandemic. These venues provide culture and entertainment to a large number of my constituents, as well as to visitors to the City.
The arts have numerous benefits, including improving people’s mental health, enabling people to learn a new skill and bringing the local community together.”