Today Arts Council England marks the one-year anniversary of the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund (CRF). Driven by Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, with support from Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, the Culture Recovery Fund is the biggest ever one-off cash injection into UK culture in history.
The government response to the pandemic has been a £2 billion investment in the sector, which has so far supported more than 5,000 organisations across the country, enabling them to survive, protect thousands of jobs and create opportunities for freelance workers. The final £300 million of this funding has also recently been announced, and will be dedicated to helping organisations prepare for full reopening.
In London, £399,644,843 has been awarded to 994 organisations through the Culture Recovery Fund.
Michael Ball OBE, Actor, Singer and Broadcaster said:
“The Coronavirus pandemic has devastated arts and cultural organisations worldwide. Thanks to the Culture Recovery Fund, which has been a lifeline to many organisations across England, casts are now back on stage; ushers, box office staff, and all the many hundreds of people backstage and front of house, who make sure that theatre is a magical experience for everyone, are back in the jobs they cherish. The beat may have been paused but it couldn’t be stopped.”
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England said:
“For cultural organisations across the country from museums to galleries, theatres, and music venues the impact of the pandemic was immediate and devastating as they faced the biggest crisis for the arts and culture sector since the Second World War. As the nation moves closer to reopening, Arts Council England thanks Oliver Dowden and government for the support provided through the Cultural Recovery Fund and applauds the strength, resilience, and unwavering determination of creative individuals and cultural organisations that have helped us through the pandemic and have given us hope for the future.”
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:
“I’m proud of the investment and commitment we have made through the Culture Recovery Fund in the last twelve months, which has been a lifeline to thousands of organisations. Almost £2 billion has protected thousands of organisations, jobs and created work for freelancers. We will continue supporting our cultural organisations as they prepare to reopen.”
