Both Burnley Youth Theatre and Mid Pennines Arts have received an extra £62,800 between them from the additional £300 million announced by the Chancellor at March’s budget for the Culture Recovery Fund, bringing the total cash support package made available for culture in Burnley and Padiham during the pandemic to well over £1 million.
The Culture Recovery Fund has already got £1.2 billion out the door to around 5,000 organisations and sites across the country and this latest round of funding is giving a lifeline to regional theatres, local museums, independent cinemas and many more throughout the winter.
From this round of funding, over £100 million has been awarded in continuity support grants to over 870 previous Culture Recovery Fund recipients administered by Arts Council England, British Film Institute, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England. Helping organisations survive and allowing them to resume programmes and events, the funding will mean people can have access to and enjoy everything they have to offer.
Commenting local MP Antony Higginbotham said:
Since the start of the pandemic, we've seen over £1 million of investment in Burnley and Padiham's arts and culture sector, with so many valuable organisations protected. And I'm delighted that in the latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund, both Burnley Youth Theatre and Mid Pennine Arts are to receive yet further support.
This represents a serious commitment to ensure that as we emerge from the pandemic, those institutions which enrich our lives with culture will be able to continue with their work, supporting local jobs and bringing people to our borough to enjoy the wealth of creativity that we have.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:
Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from.
Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.
To make sure that everyone continues to have access to arts and culture, this funding will support creative, community-driven arts organisations and creative projects, to help nurture and sustain local talent.