Cornish art and cultural 'gems' receive lifeline grant from Government
Organisations across the Duchy have received a further £540,000 from the Government's Cultural Recovery Fund.
The government has announced a further £540,000 of funding to protect four “cultural gems” in Cornwall.
Comedy clubs, circuses, festivals, regional theatres and local museums are among 588 arts and culture organisations across England to receive a share of £76million in essential support in the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund.
Kneehigh Theatre, based in Truro, is the biggest winner in Cornwall with £249,833.
This money will enable Kneehigh to reopen in December and deliver safe, accessible, outdoor artistic experiences including a walk-through exhibition and performances by firelight.
Kneehigh is an award-winning international touring theatre company celebrated across the UK. It has been active during lockdown and created new walks on its free storytelling app Walk With Me.
Alumni include Dawn French, who recorded a number of stories for the company, and former artistic director Emma Rice, who went on to work at Shakespeare’s Globe in London before starting her own new company, Wise Children, in 2018.
“The overnight loss of box office income and international touring placed our company into a precariously vulnerable position.
"Throughout the last six months we have continued to create, releasing our first film, The Neon shadow, launching new stories on our Walk With Me app and setting creative challenges to thousands online in our Windows to the World project.
“Securing Culture Recovery Funding will now enable Kneehigh to reimagine its operating model, reignite its creativity and prepare the company to present its work in front of live audiences once again - and we can’t wait."
Michelle Carwardine-Palmer, CEO of Kneehigh Theatre
Also successful were ILOW in Truro (£157,605), The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society in Falmouth (£79,060) and Calstock Arts in Calstock (£52,164).
The funding will enable socially-distanced performances to restart where safe to do so, venues to plan for reopening, protect jobs and create opportunities for freelancers.
It follows the announcement on Monday that 13 organisations in Cornwall were being given £1.8million in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund.
“This is more vital funding to protect cultural gems across the country, save jobs and prepare the arts to bounce back.
“Through Arts Council England we are delivering the biggest ever investment in the arts in record time.
“Hundreds of millions of pounds are already making their way to thousands of organisations.
“These awards build on our commitment to be here for culture in every part of the country.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden
Organisations have been awarded grants under £1million in the first two rounds of funding this week.
Further details of grant awards of up to £3million and £270million in repayable cultural finance will follow in the coming days and weeks.
The Culture Recovery Fund builds on more than £200billion of support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, more than £13.5billion through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and £100billion of tax cuts, tax deferral, direct grants and government-backed loans.