The Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall has been awarded £851,604 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.
The Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
The Theatre Royal Nottingham opened in 1865 with the Royal Concert Hall following on in 1982. Both venues are at the very heart of Nottingham City Centre’s Cultural economy and are considered the jewel in the city’s cultural crown. The theatre & concert hall presents an eclectic mix of work on its stages including drama, musicals, ballet, dance, opera, comedy, classical & contemporary music, pantomimes and family shows. The venue is also renowned for its education and community programme and its heritage work with an active archive project continuing throughout the current situation.
The Cultural Recovery Fund will allow the venue, whose bid was titled ‘A Right Royal Welcome’ to fully physically prepare for a COVID-19 safe re-opening for audiences, when circumstances allow, and help ensure the future sustainability of both venues. It will also provide the opportunity for the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall to programme a varied series of socially distanced performances and community related work back into both venues, details of which will be announced in due course.
Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture & IT at Nottingham City Council, Councillor Dave Trimble said:
“Our wonderful theatres and venues are such an important part of our city, they give us an identity, exceptional entertainment attracting thousands of people to come and visit every year, and a huge boost to our local economy. It’s vitally important that they are protected so they can continue to play such a huge role in our city life once Covid is sufficiently under control that people can start to return. This funding for the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall is extremely welcome.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”
Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:
“Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”
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