Gosport MP and Minister of State for Digital and Culture, Caroline Dinenage, has welcomed the Government’s £1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions.
This investment will be a potential lifeline for valued venues across our area including The Kings Theatre, Mary Rose Museum and the Mayflower which all face an uncertain future.
Thousands of organisations across a range of sectors including the performing arts and theatres, heritage, historic palaces, museums, galleries, live music and independent cinema will be able to access emergency grants and loans.
The package will provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic. It will help them stay afloat while their doors are closed. Funding to restart paused projects will also help support employment, including freelancers working in these sectors.
Many of Britain’s cultural and heritage institutions have already received unprecedented financial assistance to see them through the pandemic including loans, business rate holidays and participation in the coronavirus job retention scheme.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions at our world-class galleries to gigs performed in local basement venues, the UK’s cultural industry is the beating heart of this country.
“This money will help safeguard the sector for future generations, ensuring arts groups and venues across the UK can stay afloat and support their staff whilst their doors remain closed and curtains remain down.”
Oliver Dowden Culture Secretary said:
“Our arts and culture are the soul of our nation. They make our country great and are the lynchpin of our world-beating and fast growing creative industries.
“I understand the grave challenges the arts face and we must protect and preserve all we can for future generations. Today we are announcing a huge support package of immediate funding to tackle the funding crisis they face. I said we would not let the arts down, and this massive investment shows our level of commitment.”
Commenting, Caroline said:
“I’m absolutely delighted we’ve secured this fantastic support package, which is a world-leading investment in heritage and the arts and our biggest ever one-off in investment in UK culture.
This will hopefully be a lifeline for many local venues including The Kings Theatre and Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, and the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton – many of whom have been concerned about the impact of coronavirus.”
