North Devon has been awarded over £600,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.
The Landmark and the Queen’s Theatre are two of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
North Devon Theatres will receive £553,086 to protect the future of performance venues including The Landmark in Ilfracombe and the Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple, and North Devon Council will receive £58,330 to support North Devon’s museums.
North Devon MP, Selaine Saxby said:
“I am delighted with this support from the Government for our two theatres in Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, which I have been championing at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The team at Selladoor have worked tirelessly to secure the future of our two, much loved theatres here in North Devon.
I am also pleased to see additional support coming for our museums through North Devon Council’s application. These cultural assets are vital to our tourism offering as well as being much enjoyed by local residents and providing educational benefits to school students.
I very much hope as these venues get through this difficult period, we support them as much as we can.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”
Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:
“Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”