Gosport MP and Minister for Digital and Culture, Caroline Dinenage, has welcomed the news that the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton has been awarded £3m in funding from Arts Council England.
The Government has today announced that it is saving a further 35 organisations with over £75 million in support. This is the latest tranche of the Government’s unprecedented £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, which as Culture Minister, Caroline worked tirelessly to secure.
The latest announcements are for big grants from the Government of between £1-3m to save the cultural icons that define our towns and cities, and make Britain the cultural superpower it is. This funding will aim to protect some of our most iconic stages from Shakespeare’s Globe to the Sheffield Crucible.
This package will also aim to protect jobs and create work for freelancers. Many of these organisations will be putting on performances or bringing forward online shows, that wouldn’t have been possible without the emergency funding. Others will use it to prepare for reopening, putting them in a strong position to bounce back.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“As part of our unprecedented £1.57 billion rescue fund, today we're saving British cultural icons with large grants of up to £3 million - from Shakespeare's Globe to the Sheffield Crucible. These places and organisations are irreplaceable parts of our heritage and what make us the cultural superpower we are. This vital funding will secure their future and protect jobs right away."
Commenting, Caroline said:
“I’m absolutely delighted that local venues like The Mayflower, are able to benefit from the Cultural Recovery Fund. This venue has delivered so many memorable shows over the years, attracting audiences from across our region. It provides jobs, supports the local economy and brings entertainment and well-being to our community.
The Government is determined to fight for our arts and cultural sectors – with £500m given already to 2,000 organisations, and more help to come.”