Stuart Anderson MP is calling on local organisations to submit an application for funding from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
- A £880 million of grant funding is available to support organisations in these areas in England, with a further £270 million in repayable finance.
Announced in July, the Culture Recovery Fund will see Britain’s globally renowned arts, culture and heritage industries receive a total of £1.57 billion to help them weather coronavirus and come back stronger, protecting jobs and safeguarding a much cherished sector for future generations. A £880 million of grant funding is available to support organisations in these areas in England, with a further £270 million in repayable finance.
The rescue package is the Government’s biggest ever one off investment in the arts and will ensure the much cherished sector not only weathers coronavirus but comes back stronger, safeguarding the UK’s world-renowned galleries, museums, heritage sites, music venues and independent cinemas and protecting jobs. As part of this, the devolved administrations have been allocated a total of £189m by the Government towards cultural and heritage support. Each nation is taking its own approach to allocating these funds.
Cultural organisations can apply for grants of up to £3 million if they can show how the funding will protect important cultural assets and ensure arts and heritage continues to play a key role in levelling up the country.
In the first round of funding £622 million will be distributed, with the remaining £258 million reserved for a second round of funding later in the year.
In this first round:
- Arts Council England will oversee £500 million to support institutions across the arts and cultural sector including theatres, music and comedy venues and museums.
- The British Film Institute will oversee a £30 million grant scheme for independent cinemas
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England will deliver £92 million worth of grants to protect heritage sites.
Arts, cultural or heritage organisations, as well as local authorities, universities and other public sector bodies who run or maintain cultural services in England. Organisations must make an application to their relevant governing body. Guidance detailing the process, criteria, deadlines and funding available can be found online at
- Arts Council England – Grants from £50,000 to £3 million. Deadline 10 August.
- Historic England – Grants from £10,000 to £3 million. Deadline 17 August.
- Heritage Fund (England only) - Grants from £10,000 to £3million. Deadline 17 August.
- British Film Institute – Grants from £10,000 to £200,000. Deadline 30 October.
Successful applicants for grants will need to have an innovative plan for how they will operate and be sustainable for the remainder of this financial year, and be able to demonstrate their international, national or local significance. Smaller organisations must show how they benefit their local community and area."
Commenting, Stuart Anderson MP said: "Our local culture organisations are central to the life of Wolverhampton South West. They are cherished and enjoyed by our community. I know that this year has been difficult for the sector due to the impact of Coronavirus. That is why I strongly welcome the £1.57 billion rescue package that has been announced to help Britain’s globally renowned arts, culture and heritage industries mitigate the impact of Coronavirus. I am in regular communication with local representatives from this sector and would like to reaffirm my commitment to supporting them, both now and in the future.
Commenting, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Our arts and culture are the soul of our nation. They make our country great and are the lynchpin of our world-beating and fast growing creative industries. I understand the grave challenges the arts face and we must protect and preserve all we can for future generations. We are announcing a huge support package of immediate funding to tackle the funding crisis they face. I said we would not let the arts down, and this massive investment shows our level of commitment.”
Further Information
- Arts Council England: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/CRFgrants#section-1
- Lottery Heritage Fund: https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/culture-recovery-fund-for-herit…
- British Film Institute: https://www.bfi.org.uk/culture-recovery-fund-independent-cinemas
- Historic England: https://historicengland.org.uk/coronavirus/funding/recovery/
The Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage is open to:
- Heritage organisations managing a heritage site or visitor attraction
- Private owners of a heritage site, venue or attraction
- Organisations managing, maintaining or caring for culturally significant assets or collections
- Businesses that are a vital part of the heritage ecosystem, including conservators, contractors, specialists and suppliers
- Organisations that manage culturally significant assets or collections
- Non-accredited museums are eligible.- (Accredited museums and those working towards accreditation should apply to the Culture Recovery Fund through Arts Council England.)
The guidance and application process, which has been made as straightforward as possible, is available at https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/culture-recovery-fund-for-heritage. After applications close at midday on Monday 17 August, decisions on awards will be made in late September.