Culture grant to help orchestra’s Covid recovery
GRAMMY nominated Sinfonia Viva, the Orchestra of the East Midlands, is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
Sinfonia Viva, which is based in Derby, works across the region performing concerts and providing opportunities for hundreds of people of all ages to take part in creative projects.
The orchestra has received a grant of £36,000 to help it recover and reopen.
This award will support core costs, provide extra support to Sing Viva – the Derbyshire Carers’ Choir - and enable its plans for a concert to be filmed and streamed online in early summer.
More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced yesterday, helping organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery.
Marianne Barraclough, Sinfonia Viva deputy chief executive: programme, said: “We are grateful for the continued support under the Cultural Recovery Fund.
“This award will enable us support our creative family of freelance musicians, composers and workshop leaders by delivering high-quality classical music and continuing the choirs that have been a lifeline to everyone involved in these turbulent times.”
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.”
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 reopen theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.”
Founded in 1982, Sinfonia Viva is a charity and orchestra that helps those most in need and performs a wide range of orchestral music written by a variety of people. These include works by classical composers, young people, the elderly and music by today’s composers.
The orchestra has featured on albums and tracks by Bobby Womack, Damon Albarn, Mos Def and the Gorillaz’ and has been nominated for a Grammy award for their work on contemporary pop music.