We are excited to announce that we have received a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund: Second Round. This will support us over the next few months as we safely reopening all WTM venues from May, allowing local audiences to access and enjoy live Arts and Heritage together again in a safe and socially distanced environment. You can read our full Press Release below.
Worthing Theatres and Museum announce they have received a grant from the Second Round of Culture Recovery Fund
Worthing Theatres and Museum has been awarded £98,398 as part of the Government’s billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) second round aimed at supporting cultural organisations as they transition back to a viable and sustainable operating model during April-June 2021. WTM were among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
The funding will support the safe reopening of WTM venues from May, allowing local audiences to access and enjoy live Arts and Heritage together again in a safe and socially distanced environment. Including a fantastic line-up of comedy, Rhum and Clay’s critically acclaimed The War of the Worlds, Proteus Theatre’s The Bloody Chamber and fun filled family theatre show Pinocchio.
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.
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.“
WTM CEO Amanda O’Reilly, has said: ‘We are delighted, and grateful, to have received a grant from Culture Recovery Fund Second Round. The last year has been extremely challenging. We have opened our venues for shows, events and exhibitions everytime government legislation allowed and it was safe to do so.
This essential funding will support WTM in getting back to doing more of what we do best, bringing high quality Arts and Heritage to Worthing, and aid in creating greater stability to weather the future, long-term financial impacts of the pandemic.
We continue to work hard towards ensuring WTM’s future so we can continue making memories together for years to come. We appreciate the support we have received from our community over the last year, and look forward to welcoming audiences back into all our venues this May.’
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.
As a charitable organisation WTM rely on the generosity and support of the community and their audiences. If you would like to find out more about how you can support WTM today please visit www.wtm.uk/donate.
For more information on events and to book tickets visit www.wtm.uk or call the WTM Box Office on 01903 206206.