Corn Exchange Newbury to receive grant from third round of government's Culture Recovery Fund
Corn Exchange Newbury has today announced that it is among 925 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the Culture Recovery Fund.
More than £100 million has been awarded to hundreds of cultural organisations across the country in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today. The third round of funding will support organisations from all corners of the sector as they deal with ongoing reopening challenges, ensuring they can thrive in better times ahead.
Corn Exchange Newbury has been awarded a grant of £120,000 which will support the arts centre with its overhead costs while it recovers from the impact of the pandemic and the reduction in earned income while audiences are slower to return to attending indoor events. It will also enable the Corn Exchange to present a digital version of its pantomime, Cinderella, to allow those who are unable to come to the theatre to watch it from the comfort of their home.
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.’
Over £1.2 billion has already been awarded from the unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund, supporting around 5000 individual organisations and sites across the country ranging from local museums to West End theatres, grassroots music venues to festivals, and organisations in the cultural and heritage supply-chains.
Katy Griffiths, Director of Corn Exchange Newbury, said: ‘We are immensely grateful for the funding we have received via the Culture Recovery Fund. Alongside the support we’ve received directly from our local community, it has made a huge difference and means we’ve been able to continue working with artists and practitioners in order to provide inspiring creative opportunities for all ages in spite of the enormous challenges of the last 18 months. With our annual pantomime Cinderella currently in rehearsals and preparations for the lantern procession well underway too, it feels a timely moment to celebrate the joy that cultural engagement can bring to us all.”
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: ‘This continued investment from the Government on an unprecedented scale means our theatres, galleries, music venues, museums and arts centres can carry on playing their part in bringing visitors back to our high streets, helping to drive economic growth, boosting community pride and promoting good health. It’s a massive vote of confidence in the role our cultural organisations play in helping us all to lead happier lives’.