£2.6 million in new funding for Staffordshire attractions
Attractions across Staffordshire have received more than £2.6 million to help them thrive after the pandemic.
A total of 41 organisations have been given a share of £2.63m from the latest round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
They include Lichfield's Garrick Theatre, which has been awarded £134,024 to help reopen and rebuild audience confidence to attend the theatre, as well as to ramp up engagement with the community and local schools.
It comes on top of £279,446 the Castle Dyke venue was awarded in October.
The National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas was handed £687,700, while other awards include £364,400 for Lichfield Cathedral, £52,859 for the Lichfield Festival and £31,600 for The Guild of St Mary's Centre.
Weston Park has been given £96,439 from the fund – which is distributed by Arts Council England – to help prepare for the re-opening of its house and park.
Karen Foster, Lichfield Garrick chief executive, said: “After a very difficult year for the arts, the news that we have been successful in the second round of Culture Recovery Funding means that we can now rebuild our programme of performances, outreach and community activities and plan for a future which brings arts and theatre to all of our communities.
"I am delighted that this funding will enable us to build a programme of re-engagement with schools, young people, our much-missed audiences and of course theatre practitioners as we develop a new show for Christmas.
"We look forward to welcoming people of all ages back into the theatre and this funding enables us to enhance our Covid-security measures for the safety of staff, volunteers and patrons.
"Our heartfelt thanks go to Arts Council England and DCMS for supporting the regional arts and offering the chance to plan for recovery."
Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said the funding was a "massive boost" that would help organisations to "hit the ground running".
Peter Knott, area director, Arts Council England, said: “We’re delighted the Culture Recovery Fund has been able to offer support to a wide range of arts and cultural sector organisations across Staffordshire.
"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 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 second round of the fund has seen £390m handed to more than 2,700 organisations around the country. Since the fund started last year, more than 1,000 groups based in the Midlands have now received £170m.
In the latest round of funding Wolverhampton Grand Theatre was given nearly £570,000, while Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery got £820,841.
Birmingham REP was awarded £553,641 and Birmingham Symphony Orchestra got £480,000.
