Coventry City of Culture Trust pledge support for charities and cultural organisations amid coronavirus

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The Chief Executive of Coventry City of Culture Trust says the trust will continue to support charities and cultural organisations across the city.

Martin Sutherland said that the trust has refocused its resources and activities to "support individuals who have been directly impacted by the pandemic, encourage new relationships to be formed between communities and continue to work with local businesses."

He said that the trust is also determined to work with charities and those in the voluntary sector.

According to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, the charity and voluntary sector is facing £4 billion of losses because of coronavirus.

Martin Sutherland, The Chief Executive of Coventry City of Culture Trust, says that they have refocused their resources to benefit those most in need during the coronavirus outbreak. Credit: Coventry City of Culture Trust

Mr Sutherland said that the work these organisations are doing is more vital than ever and the trust have taken actions to support their local charities and voluntary organisations.He also said that the Coventry City of Culture Trust is built on the work of thousands of small organisations and freelancers and protecting them is essential during the crisis.

Some of the measures taking place to attempt to reduce the impact of coronavirus outbreak in the city:

  • The trust have developed new artistic commissioning opportunities with Shoot Festival, the Belgrade Theatre and Sitting Rooms of Culture

  • They have confirmed £100k of support to cultural organisations across the city to allow them to continue to operate and plan for 2021

  • A £60,000 Coventry 2021 Coronavirus Resilience Fund has been created with the first £10k of grants being awarded this week. (Funding will go directly to individuals and organisations based and working in the cultural sector in Coventry and Warwickshire who have been impacted by loss of earnings because of the pandemic).

  • The trust have led on a range of commissioning opportunities including a new music and visual art project supporting 30 artists based in Coventry postcodes.

  • The trust have committed £46,000 to support 92 local residents who applied for their Leadership Programme.

  • All existing employment and freelance contracts have been honoured, and the trust is continuing with ongoing recruitment

Mr Sutherland said that they have also had to look into how suitable their current project plans are and ave delayed the launch of their apprenticeship programme as well as their volunteering programme.

Although the trust was disappointed to announce the cancellation of summer shows including the Godiva Festival, they say resources will be reallocated to local artistic commissioning opportunities.