More help for cultural venues in South West
CASH for cultural and entertainment venues from discos to theatres and museums is to be been handed out across the South West in a second wave of support to help them survive shutdown as a result of coronavirus.
Business and organisations across the South West in the field of entertainment are to share in £5.4 million from central Government for the region.
The lion’s share of the cash goes to Bristol, but Devon receives £653,000, Cornwall £538,000, Somerset – including Bath – almost £1 million and Dorset nearly £500,000.
CULTURAL and entertainment venues and operators across the South West are to receive a share of £5.4 million in a second wave of pay-outs under a Government fund set up to offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
A range of venues, from Annabel’s Cabaret and Discotheque in Plymouth to Truro’s Kneehigh Theatre, are among the beneficiaries – spreading the cash between serious culture and out and out entertainment, all of which has been hit by the impact of the pandemic, which has forced most venues to either close or significantly reduce the number of paying visitors.
In a statement, the Conservative Party said the funding would enable socially distanced performances to restart where safe to do so while other venues could “plan for reopening, protect jobs and create opportunities for freelancers.”
Last week, in round one of the pay-outs, a total of 129 organisations in the South West were given £26.5 million.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This is more vital funding to protect cultural gems across the country, save jobs and prepare the arts to bounce back.
“Through Arts Council England, we are delivering the biggest-ever investment in the arts in record time. Hundreds of millions of pounds are already making their way to thousands of organisations.
“These awards build on our commitment to be here for culture in every part of the country.”
Organisations have been awarded grants under £1 million in the first two rounds of funding this week, and further details of grant awards of up to £3 million and £270 million in repayable cultural finance will follow in the coming days and weeks, ministers promise.
The Culture Recovery Fund builds on more than £200 billion of support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, more than £13.5 billion through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and £100 billion of tax cuts, tax deferral, direct grants and government-backed loans.
However, some venues are still unsure if they will survive the pandemic, warning that, the longer social distancing rules remain in place, the harder it will be to retain staff. Already, cinema giants Cineworld, owners of the new cinema in Plymouth’s recently developed Barcode, have closed down in both Britain and the US, citing delays in the launch of major new films, including the latest James Bond movie.