Government awards funding lifeline

Rosehill Theatre has been awarded £207,000 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 a sustainable future.

The theatre in Moresby, near Whitehaven, is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support to help ensure they have a sustainable future.

A total of £257 million of investment has been announced today by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden as part of the 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 over the coming weeks.

This funding is much-needed in support of the Grade II listed Rosehill, which has been closed to the public since March. As well as helping the theatre to survive the next few months, it will also allow the team to develop their evolving plans. These include a return to live performances, with distanced audiences, and introducing live and recorded streams, particularly in partnership with libraries, schools and other community settings.

It will also support the development of other innovative ways of presenting work to suit the times.

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."

Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England, 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."

Rosehill director Richard Elder said: "To receive this funding is great news, which is in addition to the Arts Council's previous Emergency Response Fund. This combination not only gives Rosehill greater financial security but also allows us to make progress with programming plans to produce work in different ways.

"Challenging times remain, but everyone at Rosehill much appreciates this further investment from the Arts Council through the Government's Culture Recovery Fund. We know there will have been difficult decisions to take and we're delighted our application was successful."