- Derby Theatre are among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
- This award will support our artistic programming, freelance community, help make our building COVID secure and allow us to support the Theatre’s longer-term financial sustainability
Derby Theatre has received a grant of £504,631 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.
More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Derby Theatre in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.
With the funding we have received we will be able to create and programme work confidently during the next three months as Derby emerges from lockdown, in line with the government’s roadmap.
This funding will, most importantly, provide work for our freelance and artistic community who have been hit so hard during this period.
Alongside this, the grant allows us to secure our longer-term financial security, helping the organisation to recover from some of the impact the pandemic has had on our longer-term resilience.
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 made today 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.
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:
“Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced.
Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”
Sarah Brigham, CEO and Artistic Director, Derby Theatre said:
“We would like to say thank you for this support which has come to Derby Theatre through the Cultural Recovery Fund. Without this funding we would not be able to continue our work and ensure we are able to be back for audiences, artists and our community this summer.
This funding will bring work to our stages and will enable us to give work to our artistic and freelance workforce.
We will also be able to invest in our participation and engagement work meaning our community can once again experience the arts as an empowering and at this time healing tool.
We have great shows, extensive engagement opportunities and some good nights out planned for you all to enjoy after what has been the hardest of years for everyone.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back as soon as it safe to do so.”
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said:
“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.
We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”
The funding awarded today 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.