SALISBURY'S arts scene has been thrown a lifeline after the latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund was announced.
Wiltshire Creative has received a grant of more than £210k from the latest round of awards from the government.
The money - £215,552 in total - is from the second round of the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
Wiltshire Creative is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards.
The organisation includes Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury International Arts Festival and Salisbury Playhouse.
'Delighted and relieved'
Sebastian Warrack. Photo by Lydia Stamps Photography
Executive Director Sebastian Warrack said: “We are delighted and relieved to have been awarded a second grant from the Cultural Recovery Fund of £215,552 to support the on-going running costs of Wiltshire Creative whilst our doors have been closed.
“It also supports events such as the forthcoming Mahlia Amatina exhibition at Salisbury Arts Centre and City Encounters over the May bank holiday, which is for the whole community.”
Salisbury Playhouse
More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country.
Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
The second round of awards will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.
Salisbury Arts Centre was the venue for the launch of the 2020 Salisbury Festival programme.
'We are extremely grateful'
Chairman of the Board of Wiltshire Creative, Tim Crarer, said: “We are enormously grateful for this CRF award. It is so important in acknowledging the important role culture plays in our community and as part of recovery from this pandemic.
“Wiltshire Creative has lost over 70 per cent of its income during Covid-19 and this further investment from DCMS means we can continue to plan for the future.
“The show will go on, but it’s vital that audiences feel confident to return when performances can start again.”
We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded funding thanks to the government’s #CultureRecoveryFund so that we can continue to be here for you and #HereForCulture
— WiltshireCreative (@WiltsCreative) April 2, 2021
Find out more: https://t.co/PzDsMTaHQy @SalisburyArts @salisburyplay @SalisburyFest @journalupdate pic.twitter.com/oP4VItBGTB
The funding awarded is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed.
The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.
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