Britain’s arts and heritage sector have now been promised £1.57bn of help in a long-awaited rescue package from the UK government. This lifeline has been described as “the biggest one-off investment in UK culture.” Tara Pilkington reports.
This news comes following months of campaigning from across the arts sector, including independent music venues, cinemas and galleries, for critical funding to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic.
After warnings that the UK was facing an irreversible cultural catastrophe if targeted support was not provided, ministers yesterday announced a lifesaving package which aims to protect the future of the country’s museums, galleries, theatres and music venues.
The package includes:
- A £1.15bn support pot for cultural organisations in England, consisting of £270m in loans and £880m in grants.
- £100m of targeted support for England’s national cultural institutions and English Heritage.
- £120m of capital investment to restart construction on cultural infrastructure and for heritage construction projects in England paused because of the pandemic.
- Extra money for devolved administrations, with £97m for Scotland, £59m for Wales and £33m for Northern Ireland.
The package has come as a welcome surprise to most people in the arts industry.
Boris Johnson discussed how important arts and culture is for the nation and said: “They make our country great and are the linchpin of our world-beating and fast-growing creative industries,”
He added: “I understand the grave challenges the arts face and we must protect and preserve all we can for future generations, ensuring arts groups and venues across the UK can stay afloat and support their staff whilst their doors remain closed and curtains remain down.”
Tamara Rojo, the artistic director of English National Ballet, said in response to this package: “The arts contribute so much to the social and economic fabric of our society. There was an urgent need for action and I am delighted and relieved that the government has listened and responded. This package gives our sector a fighting chance of survival.”
However, for some venues, this news comes too late, as due to a lack of income while remaining closed during the coronavirus combined with no rent relief from landlords, have already been forced to close their doors for good.
The shadow culture secretary, Jo Stevens, on twitter said: “This is a much-needed injection of cash but for many it’s too little too late. It needs to reach theatres teetering on the brink fast- especially those across the towns and small cities where venues + arts orgs are so vital to local economies providing many interdependent jobs.”
Industry experts have added that it is still too soon to say whether this package would stave off the threat of redundancies already announced by theatres in both the commercial and subsidised sector.
