Arts Organisations Awarded Recovery Grants

Warwick District Council’s Arts Team is pleased to announce they have been successful in their application for the second round of Arts Council England’s (ACE) Culture Recovery Fund Grants.

The award of £86,985, in addition to the £170,000 in the first round, will ensure the future viability of the Art Section’s cultural offer, which includes exhibitions, events and workshops at Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum and a programme of live performance and film at the Royal Spa Centre.

David Guilding, Arts Manager at Warwick District Council said:

“This is great news and a testament to all the hard work achieved by the team during this most challenging year. It is also a reassuring ‘seal of approval’ from ACE, who clearly understand what we are trying to do and why our services are so important to our local community. These funds will help us to put Covid measures in place at the Spa Centre ready for re-opening, adjust the existing ones in the Town Hall and Royal Pump Rooms, as well as fund some activity before we are able to generate income again. Thanks to the government’s Culture Recovery Fund we can continue to be Here For Culture.”

Rose Winship, Head Cultural Services at Warwick District Council added:

“We are delighted with the news that the Arts Section has been awarded this fund and thrilled to hear that Motionhouse and Playbox Theatre have also been awarded grants as they are important arts organisations based in Warwick District.”

Louise Richards, Executive Director of Motionhouse, a dance-circus company based in Leamington Spa, said:

“We’re utterly delighted to have received support from the Culture Recovery Fund. It will enable us to be ready to respond to opportunities to perform and inspire people as soon as restrictions allow. Thanks to Arts Council England and the Department for Culture Media and Sport for their support.”

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, Added:

“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.” Culture Recovery Fund Grants from ACE will help organisations in Warwick District to look ahead to the spring and summer enabling them to 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.

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 across the country