Coronavirus: Theatre Severn to receive over £500,000 from Culture Recovery Fund

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury has received a grant of £532,978 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Theatre Severn in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

The grant will support Theatre Severn during a period of recovery in the months ahead, and will enable the venue to pursue plans for an exciting summer season of events for all ages, including outdoor events at Shrewsbury Castle and participatory activities for children and young people.

In line with the Government’s roadmap, Theatre Severn currently plans to reopen from the earliest Monday 17 May 2021, initially with a programme of film screenings and selected live events where appropriate social distancing and reduced capacities will be in operation until restrictions can be lifted further.

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.

Mark Barrow, Shropshire Council’s executive director of place and enterprise, said:-

“We’re thrilled to receive funding from the Culture Recovery Fund.

“Staff at Theatre Severn have worked tremendously hard to find new ways to bring the theatre to audiences and to bolster the pandemic support effort in the county, with the venue recently becoming a walk-in rapid Lateral Flow Tests centre.

“Despite best efforts, theatres and the wider cultural sector, like so many others, have been hugely impacted by the pandemic and have had revenue streams slashed. We are incredibly grateful in receiving grant funding to support the recovery of Theatre Severn, and to enable us to explore an exciting programme of events for people of all ages in the months ahead and give everyone something positive to look forward to.”

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 reopen 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.”

Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England, said:

“We’re pleased to be investing in Theatre Severn through the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. This funding will offer them the opportunity to plan for the future and prepare for reopening in the coming months. From hosting stand-up comedy and contemporary dance to family theatre, pantomimes and live music, the theatre plays a crucial role in bringing interesting and exciting cultural events to people across the region. 

“The Government’s package is hugely welcome, providing much of the sector with resources to reopen safely. Building upon investment made in the first round of recovery funding, we’re pleased to see that many more well-loved community projects, theatres, galleries, museums, clubs, music venues, festivals, key cultural suppliers along with other creative spaces and projects have benefited, and their communities will feel a boost as a result. Now that we’re hopefully on the road to recovery, there is much to look forward to as organisations get ready to reopen their doors, welcoming back audiences and making plans for the future.”

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.

Further information

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from the Government and the National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk

Due to the pandemic, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies administering the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19.