Government rescue package offers hope to hundreds of theatres and arts venues facing closure
Stars from the Midlands, including singer Beverley Knight and actor David Bradley have called for help to protect the arts
There's hope tonight that hundreds of theatres and live venues across the Midlands, some facing imminent closure, could be saved.
The Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, has announced a one and a half billion pound aid package for the sector, designed to stave off financial ruin. Mr Dowden says the "vast majority" of the UK's "world beating" arts industry will be rescued, including venues known as Britain's "crown jewels", but he also admitted that the package is "not going to be able to support everyone".
Leaders in the industry, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, have mostly welcomed the government support - made up of grants and loans - which was unveiled by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Sunday evening.
The RSC had to furlough 9 out of 10 staff members and end contracts with freelancers during the pandemic. With 2-metre social distancing, venues like the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon estimated they could only admit 20 per cent of their audience capacity. Even if social distancing was reduced to 1-metre plus, capacity would only increase to 30 percent and wouldn't be financially viable. That's why the company says the government cash injection could be a lifeline.
The news comes as Leicester's Curve Theatre announced that it's been losing £25,000 a day in earned income since it was forced to close due to the lockdown. Although the venue, which has been showing archived performances online in the absence of actual audiences, does not yet know how much it will receive, it has welcomed the injection of funds.
The £1.15 billion support pot for cultural organisations in England is made up of £880 million in grants and £270 million of repayable loans.Read more: