BROOKLANDS’ £950K BOOST
Historic circuit receives backing from £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
Brook lands Museum is one of the first historic vehicle and motor sport venues to receive backing from the government’s new Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) – a £1.57 billion package set up to support the arts and culturallysignificant sites across the UK.
The historic Surrey race circuit applied for a £950,000 grant, administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It was set for a harsh winter, as falling visitor numbers and low event attendance (owing to coronavirus), were to impact on its income. The grant allowed it to keep the doors open and for work to continue on its racing cars, motorcycles and historic aircraft.
Brooklands Museum’s Director and CEO, Tamalie Newbery, said: ‘As an independent charity, income from visitors has always been our main source of funds, so the COVID-19 epidemic has been very tough. However, we have been delighted by the public’s response since we reopened in August and this grant means that throughout this winter and beyond, people will be able to continue coming here.’
Brooklands isn’t the only historic vehicle site to have benefitted from the first round of cash on 12 October – the British Commercial Vehicle Trust, based in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, received £183,600 from the CRF. Arts Council England is planning a second round of grants of under £1 million, followed by applications for funding over £1 million and various other cash programmes, such as Capital Kickstart and Repayable Finance.
] brooklandsmuseum.com
] artscouncil.org.uk/CRFgrants