Nottingham Arts and Culture Venues Given Government Funding Lifeline with Culture Recovery Fund

Words: Ashley Carter
Monday 12 October 2020
reading time: min, words

Seventeen organisations have received combined funding totalling over £4.5 million to help with post-COVID recovery...

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Seventeen of Nottingham's Arts and Culture organisations have received funding from the Government's Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary has announced. With an aim of helping the arts sector face the challenges of the ongoing COVID pandemic, the funding is set to help ensure some of the city's most iconic institutions will have a future amidst unprecedented losses of income. 

The CRF is a £1.57 billion scheme, today's announcement marking investment of £257 million of funding for 1,385 organisations nationwide - over £4.5 million of which will benefit Nottingham. One recipient of the funding, Nottingham Playhouse, has been awarded £789,011, allowing them to partially reopen for its Unlocked festival of live and livestreamed performances, which runs from Wednesday 21 October to Monday 9 November, and socially-distanced panto Cinderella (Friday 27 November to Saturday 16 January). It will also enable the organisation to consult, restructure and reimagine what its communities’ need, as well as becoming more financially resilient during the ongoing pandemic. 

Stephanie Sirr, Chief Executive of Nottingham Playhouse said: “We are extremely thankful to have been awarded what we requested from the Culture Recovery Fund which will see the Playhouse through to March 2021. It means we face the future with a great deal more confidence.  We would like to thank everybody for their support of the Playhouse at this critical time.”

Victoria Reeves, CEO of the National Justice Museum, who received £220,000, said, "We are all delighted that the National Justice Museum has been awarded £220,000 from the Arts Council’s Cultural Recovery Fund. It has come just at the right time as we face the uncertainty of the next round of restrictions for our city and assists us in thinking forward over the winter months to continue with our programming and work via our NPO funding, but also in widening out the ways that communities can engage with us and in looking at how we can work with schools and young people to continue offering our award winning education programmes"

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, who has overseen the CRF, 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.”

As another recipient of the funding, Broadway Cinema have been awarded £419,015. CEO Steve Mapp said, “We’re extremely grateful to the Cultural Recovery Fund for this award. The funding gives us the financial security to continue with our phased re-opening, at a time of continuing insecurity within our sector. Over the past two weeks, it has been fantastic to welcome people back to our reduced capacity, socially distanced screens and hear their positive response to the Broadway experience. This continued audience support is vital to our survival.”

Nottingham Contemporary have also benefitted from the scheme, having been awarded £220,000. As the centre for contemporary art, presenting groundbreaking and interwoven programmes of international exhibitions, learning, partnerships, research and new commissions, they have welcomed over two million visitors to over sixty exhibitions featuring the work of almost 1,000 artists since opening in 2009. Contemporary’s Director, Sam Thorne, said: “We're thrilled that Nottingham Contemporary has been awarded £220,000 as part of the Government's Culture Recovery Fund. This is absolutely vital support in the midst of an extremely challenging moment for our sector.”

Full list of Nottingham organisations and venues who have received funding from the Government's Cultural Relief Fund:

  • Architects of Air - Luminarium Company Ltd (£97,000)
  • City Arts Nottingham (£58,277)
  • DHP Family Limited (£908,004)
  • Gloworm Events Ltd (£70,000)
  • Lakeside Arts (£249,714)
  • National Justice Museum (£220,000)
  • Nonsuch Theatre (£211,838)
  • Nottingham Arts Theatre Ltd (£50,000)
  • Nottingham Contemporary (£220,000)
  • Nottingham Media Centre Ltd (£419,015)
  • Nottingham Music Service (£120,000)
  • Nottingham Playhouse (£789,011)
  • Onpoint Distribution Ltd (£50,000)
  • Peggy's Skylight (£179,222)
  • The Chameleon Arts Cafe (£77,161)
  • Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham (£851,604)
  • Writing East Midlands (£78,500)

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