• Bolton Council among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
Bolton Council has received a grant of £332,950 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
The funding will be used to support the recovery of Bolton Councils Cultural Services, building back audiences and ensuring that Bolton residents can access quality arts, music education and museum services.
Across the country, over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery.
After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.
A spokesperson for Bolton Council said:
“During lockdown, we had to change the way we delivered cultural services so that residents could still engage with music education, local heritage and the arts.
“Now as we work towards recovery, we are looking forward to welcoming back physical audiences.
“This funding will help us to do so safely, so that as many residents as possible can enjoy our culture offer.”
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:
“Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced.
Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead."
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said:
“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.
“We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”
The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.