NEWS: £319,238 From the Culture Recovery Fund Round Two

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Nottingham Playhouse in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

Nottingham Playhouse is one of the UK’s leading producing theatres, creating a range of productions throughout the year as well as running wide-reaching participation schemes, youth theatres and its Amplify programme, which seeks to inspire and support theatre-makers from the East Midlands.

Support from the CRF will allow Nottingham Playhouse to fully reopen for productions, to support local creatives and freelancers and to welcome its community back either in person or on-line to enjoy its vital participation activity.

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.”

Stephanie Sirr, Chief Executive at Nottingham Playhouse, said: “We are very grateful to have received £319,238 from Arts Council England to reopen. We have already made plans to keep producing new work and hire local and national creative artists through our Spring Loaded season of live and digital events. We also cannot wait to welcome audiences back to the theatre for Adam Penford’s long-awaited Piaf in July. Nottingham Playhouse earns over 70% of its income in normal times and this has been the most difficult 12 months in our 70 year history. However, it is now an exciting and promising time and we thank ACE as well as the kind generosity of audiences, donors, funders and sponsors for saving us.”

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.