Published: Thursday 08th April 2021 | 3.18pm
Cultural Services in Cannock Chase have been given a financial ‘lifeline’ from the second round of the £1.57 billion Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Inspiring healthy lifestyles, which manages the Prince of Wales Theatre, Museum of Cannock Chase and Arts Outreach service, has been awarded £174,930 of funding to support reopening and recovery. Inspiring healthy lifestyles is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from this latest round of awards.
The funding will allow the Prince of Wales Theatre to welcome audiences back for socially distanced shows with details, soon to be announced, of local amateur group performances in June. The Museum of Cannock Chase plans to reopen its doors on 20 May, in line with Government guidance, with family activities to do on site each Saturday, as well as a programme of workshops and outdoor trails.
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. 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.'
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.’
Chris Derbyshire, Deputy Managing Director, Inspiring healthy lifestyles, said:
‘We are thrilled and very grateful for this support. This funding will allow us to re-open our doors to the public after months of closure and help us build for the future. It will enable our venues and services to reconnect with our community and ensure the continuation of cultural opportunities within the District.’
Mike Edmonds, Head of Environment and Healthy Lifestyles, Cannock Chase Council, said:
‘We are delighted that Inspiring healthy lifestyles has received Culture Recovery funding, supporting our local cultural services through the pandemic. Arts, culture and history are important to the wellbeing of our residents and we look forward to welcoming people back to our venues.’
Notes for Editors
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk
Following the COVID-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies administering the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19.
In the Budget, the Chancellor announced the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund would be boosted with a further £300 million investment. Details of this third round of funding will be announced soon.