Funding life-line for theatres in the east in first round of government support
More than one hundred theatres, museums and cultural organisations across the East of England have been handed a life-line as the first round of grants are announced as part of the Government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
The Seagull Theatre in Lowestoft and The Cresset in Peterborough are among those to benefit from the funding boost.
The money is to help venues that are struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic and go towards making sure they have a sustainable future.
Across the East Midlands which includes Northamptonshire, 96 venues will benefit with a total of £17,164,443 being handed out in funding.
The £257 million of investment has been announced today (12th October) nationally after applications were made for grants up to one million pounds.
It is part of the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme which is 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.
Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft
The Seagull has been working hard to stay open and stay active during the pandemic. In July they launched a commissioning programme for freelance artists which resulted in a successful premiere evening last month.
Throughout September the Theatre had a special socially distanced season of shows every Friday alongside an online offering of live streamed concerts every Saturday.
The theatre generously 100% of the ticket sales from these events to the performers themselves.
The Cresset, Peterborough - £242,286
The Cresset has been staging live events in Peterborough for over 40 years with more than 60,000 people attending live events last year.
Since March over 100 performances and events have been cancelled or rescheduled.
While the venue has announced some socially distanced performances in recent weeks including a specially adapted pantomime, the reduced capacity has a huge financial impact.
The music education charity Peterborough Sings has also benefited. It's been awarded a grant of £50,000 to help it continue its work running choirs and making outreach visits to schools.
Will Prideaux, Director of Peterborough Sings told ITV News Anglia that this funding will mean they can survive.
The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich has also received funding. Sue Lawther-Brown from the theatre says it gives them stability.
Some of the other successful venues/organisations include:
£57,377 for Next Generation Youth Theatre, Luton's largest theatre & dance provider for young people.
£79,176 for SINCRU, a Hip Hop collective based in Cambridge that works to cultivate access, skills development and community engagement within all aspects of the varying Hip Hop art forms.
£182,907 for Hippodrome Great Yarmouth, Britain’s only surviving circus building. Built in 1903, it is just one of three buildings in the world to still have and operate an original sinking ring water feature.
£180,000 for Caddies Comedy Club, a comedy venue in Southend-on-Sea that provides vital opportunities for people to train, workshop and perform comedy on stage.
£306,457 for Wyllotts Theatre (InspireAll), a community theatre owned by Hertsmere Borough Council that provides space for a wide range of cultural and community events.
£84,335 for the John Peel Centre, the only venue in the world dedicated to the legendary DJ John Peel and an important part of the cultural offer in Stowmarket.
More information can be found on the Arts Council website