Banbury arts centre awarded nearly £50k from Culture Recovery Fund

Banbury's The Mill Arts Centre has announced they have received a grant of £49,524 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, which will support them as they work towards resuming their full programme of events.

The Mill Arts Centre issued a statement about the funding, which said: "Over the last year, we have developed our programme in an ever-changing context, enabling us to continue providing classes, workshops and live performances to the communities of Banbury and beyond. Some of the highlights from the past year include:

"New online classes and workshops, including Culture Club, our online art and dance courses for older people in the community in partnership with Age UK Oxfordshire

"Creative Learning classes and workshops, both online and in person when restrictions have allowed in our COVID secure studios

"Snow Play, the festive family show performed live at The Mill by Lyngo Theatre in December 2020, which proved a huge hit with audiences both in our socially distanced theatre and live streamed at home."

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

More than £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support venues like The Mill Arts Centre, including 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 (Friday April 2) will help our sector 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 is a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced.

"Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”

Georgia Bradley, artistic director and joint CEO, and Andrew Lister, executive director and joint CEO, said: “It’s wonderful to see this support for the sector as the creative industry looks ahead towards recovery. We’re delighted to have been awarded funding by the Culture Recovery Fund; this will be crucial support for us as we take each small step forward to resuming our full programme, and welcoming audiences safely back to The Mill as restrictions ease.”

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 re-open 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.”

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.