Published: Monday 12th October 2020 | 3.57pm
Inspiring healthy lifestyles which runs leisure and culture services on behalf of Cannock Chase District Council has been awarded £342k as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and ensure a sustainable future for these services, the Culture Secretary has announced today.
The grant will be used to support the Museum of Cannock Chase, Prince of Wales Theatre and the Arts Development programme run by Inspiring healthy lifestyles.
Inspiring healthy lifestyles is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
The Museum of Cannock Chase is currently open Thursday to Saturday and Prince of Wales Theatre is set to release details and a reopening plan in the next few weeks.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”
Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”
Chris Derbyshire, Deputy Managing Director at Inspiring healthy lifestyles, said: “The Museum of Cannock Chase, Prince of Wales Theatre and our Arts Development programme are hugely important to us and the Cannock Chase community. Now more than ever, it is important that we appreciate the value that arts, history and culture adds to our lives and society as a whole.
We are delighted to have received this grant, it will go a long way to helping rebuild following the pandemic.”
Councillor Christine Mitchell, Portfolio leader for Culture and Sport, said: “In Cannock Chase we are proud to support our culture, heritage and arts. I am delighted to see this grant awarded to Inspiring healthy lifestyles and look forward to the cultural offering continue to grow as it returns following the pandemic.”