Government releases final package of Culture Recovery Fund

The government has opened applications for the remaining £300 million of the Culture Recovery Fund, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced.

The fund has so far distributed over £1.2 billion to more than 5,000 organisations across the UK to support the creative and cultural sector through the Covid-19 pandemic.

The £2 billion Culture Recovery Fund was set up to protect the sector which has largely remained closed throughout the past year due to ongoing lockdowns and restrictions.

The third and final round of funding will now provide further support as the cultural, heritage and creative sectors move towards reopening at full capacity. Almost £220 million will be available for both new organisations who are at imminent risk of failure, and existing recipients of grants. 

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of organisations across the country to survive and protected hundreds of thousands of jobs. Now, as we look forward to full reopening, this funding shows our commitment to stand behind culture and heritage all the way through the pandemic.

“This round of funding will provide a further boost to help organisations build back better and ensure we can support more of those in need – safeguarding our precious culture and heritage, and the jobs this supports.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said:

The Culture Recovery Fund has been a lifeline for the sector throughout the pandemic, and has saved hundreds of cultural organisations across the country from collapse. Creativity and culture will be an essential part of our efforts to rebuild after the pandemic, and we’re extremely grateful for the Government’s continued support to help organisations reopen and play their part in the national recovery.”

Ben Roberts, BFI Chief Executive said:

With cinemas reopening up and down the country the strong box office results are showing us that audiences are once again embracing the big screen experience that is so integral to communities, families and individual’s cultural life.

“The Culture Recovery Fund has been a lifeline to survival for local independent cinemas up and down the country, and now will continue to help them to recover and thrive, ensuring that they will be able to continue to offer audiences a variety of film from family fun with Peter Rabbit 2 and feel good musical In The Heights to independent hits such as Oscar-winning The Father and the critically acclaimed After Love.”