Hampshire charity, Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) has been awarded £480,000 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 it has a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.
Hampshire Cultural Trust 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.
Hampshire Cultural Trust was established in 2014 to promote Hampshire as a great cultural county. The trust manages 23 arts and museum attractions, delivers county-wide outreach programmes that bring culture to local communities and cares for 2.5 million objects relating to Hampshire’s rich and internationally important heritage. HCT importantly, delivers a diverse range of social impact initiatives targeted at those who are most vulnerable and who would not usually have access to arts and culture.
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.”
Hampshire Cultural Trust’s Chief Executive, Paul Sapwell, commented:
“We are delighted to receive this crucial funding. From the 4 July 2020, in line with government guidance, we took a staggered approach to opening our venues safely. This funding will allow our venues to remain open, operate safely and ensure that Hampshire Cultural Trust can continue to provide inspirational cultural experiences to support health, wellbeing and happiness in our communities.”