Truro’s Hall for Cornwall has been awarded a £2,000,000 Capital Kickstart grant as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund enabling organisations to push forward with capital projects despite the financial challenge caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
The Hall for Cornwall is one of 74 organisations receiving grants totalling £58.9million today. The Capital Kickstart grants programme helps organisations cover costs added to capital projects such as building works, refurbishments, and large-scale equipment purchases by pandemic-related delays or fundraising shortfalls.
Today the Government also announced that £165million from the Culture Recovery Fund has been offered in repayable loans to help 11 major cultural organisations survive the loss of income caused by the crisis. This follows previous rounds of the Culture Recovery Fund, including the Grants programme which distributed £428million to over 2000 cultural organisations across the country, and the £3.36million Emergency Grassroots Music Venues Fund.
Welcoming the news was Truro’s Member of Parliament, Cherilyn Mackrory, who said:
“I am absolutely delighted to see the Hall for Cornwall again recognised with funding from the Government to help it through its critical refurbishment and keep it on track to reopen next year.”
“I have worked hard with Julien Boast and his excellent team to ensure all in Government are aware just how important the Hall for Cornwall is, not just for Truro, but as a cultural centre for arts for Cornwall.”
“I am pleased to see the Government investing millions more into our constituency and look forward to continue to working with all involved to ensure the Hall for Cornwall reopens to be enjoyed by everyone.”
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden said
“When the Culture Recovery Fund launched, I said I would not let the cultural sector down and I have kept my word with more than £1 billion now allocated to organisations who need it most.”
“We have funded organisations of every size in all corners of the country, and now we are extending a huge helping hand to some of the country’s biggest cultural powerhouses to get them through the Covid crisis too.”
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England said
“Today’s announcements are another vital step in securing the future of England’s cultural sector. The support for capital projects will help to ensure that we maintain an innovative, sustainable cultural infrastructure that supports world class creative work. The Repayable Loans will enable some of our most significant and internationally recognised cultural organisations to weather the effects of Covid-19 and reopen when it is safe to do so. The Arts Council is grateful to the Government for their exceptional support through the Culture Recovery Fund.”