Funding Success
12th October 2020
The Playhouse is delighted to share with you all the recent news that our bid to ACE Culture Recovery Fund was successful.
Alnwick Playhouse has been awarded £197, 668 funds as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.
The Playhouse 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 news of this funding has brought joy and relief to everyone at the Playhouse as it will help us survive the financial implications of closure and also help us to navigate new socially distanced ways in which to continue as the creative and social hub for our community.
A socially distanced programme reduces our audiences to only 60 people and so we have an ambition to develop new staff skills and technology to explore a digital offer which can extend far beyond the Playhouse stage. We also aim to invest in a digital and visual arts programme to help us keep involved with the creative community and leave a legacy for the future.
The Playhouse shall also be working in partnership with other Northumberland Venues, Queens Hall, Hexham and The Maltings, Berwick towards a joined up digital project celebrating Northumberland at Christmas.
This vital new funding is gratefully received and most reassuring to our community, partners and valued supporters that the Playhouse will survive for future generations to come.
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.”