A number of York’s cultural organisations have been this week awarded grants from the government’s £1.57bn Cultural Recovery Fund (CRF) to help them face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future.
Yorkshire Air Museum and Allied Air Forces Memorial and The York Museums Trust were amongst 1,385 cultural organisations across the country who found out on Monday (October 12) that they had been successful in the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. York’s only producing theatre – York Theatre Royal, has also received the grant to continue bringing performances to enrich the cultural offer of the city, as well as The National Centre for Early Music.
Two venues that are crucial to the city’s grassroots music venue network – the Fulford Arms and The Crescent – have also secured a share of the fund, with support from the Music Venue Trust.
Bedern Hall, Castle Howard and Eden Camp were amongst 450 heritage organisations in England that have been awarded grants from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage – funded by Government and administered at arms-length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Helen Apsey, Head of Culture and Wellbeing for Make It York, said:
“This is brilliant news for the cultural and creative organisations in the city who have received this vital funding.
We have such a rich cultural offer in York – and such incredible creative practitioners, who have continued to innovate and find ways to create, share and inspire through their art, even during lockdown – and it’s heartening to see this recognised and supported, at such a crucial time for the sector. Many organisations are facing very difficult circumstances, unable to open as usual, and this funding provides hope in what are deeply uncertain times.
At Make It York, we’re continuing to work closely with York’s creative and cultural organisations and we’ll continue doing everything we can to support this important sector.”