SALISBURY Playhouse has been awarded a grant of £400,000 to help it keep up its projects and programme of events during the economic downturn.

The money from Arts Council England’s Sustain Fund will help the Playhouse to support education, community and audience development activity, along with its programme of home-produced contemporary drama in the Salberg Studio, over the next two years.

The Sustain Fund was set up earlier this year to help arts organisations maintain artistic excellence during the economic downturn.

The Playhouse’s successful application will also help underwrite the downturn in business sponsorship, which the theatre is experiencing.

Michelle Carwardine-Palmer, executive director of Salisbury Playhouse, said: “We are delighted to receive this Sustain Award. It is an acknowledgement of the high quality and breadth of work that the Playhouse continues to produce.

"Whilst to date we have weathered the economic storm quite well, the award will ensure that the people of Wiltshire and beyond can continue to enjoy and benefit from the Playhouse’s work.”

Among the projects that will now be able continue are the hugely successful Start! Project which, to date, has benefited more than 400 primary school children, and Spectrum, which encourages black and minority ethnic young people and their friends to explore all aspects of theatre.