Hull Truck Theatre recipient of second cultural recovery grant
02 Apr 2021 | General News
More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country, including Hull Truck Theatre. The latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary, was announced today.
This award will support the creation of new work, help rebuild audiences, re-connect with communities and enhance the programme of work due to take place over the summer.
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.
Janthi Mills-Ward, Executive Director at Hull Truck Theatre, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to both the DCMS and Arts Council England to have been awarded emergency funding from round two of the Cultural Recovery Fund.
“We’re primarily going to use the grant to support the creation of new work, helping to rebuild audiences after a long period of closure. By enhancing the exciting programme of work that’s due to hit our stage this summer we’re going to reinvigorating our stages and performance spaces.
“The funding is also pivotal in re-connecting with our communities – identifying barriers to attendance and taking new and exciting projects directly out into our community.
“Our building has now been closed for over a year and we’re delighted at the prospect of welcoming audiences back over the coming months. The safety of our audiences and staff is paramount and we’re confident that we have everything in place to ensure that we’re operating under Covid-safe regulations when we are able to re-open.
“The pandemic has had a massive impact on the theatre industry as a whole and it’s certainly been a challenging year for everyone working within the sector. We were delighted to hear that Hull-based companies Middle Child Theatre and Hull Jazz Festival were also successful in their CRF2 funding application and hope that other local cultural organisations have secured the support they need.”
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.”
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.
