Leeds Heritage Theatres has been handed a lifeline grant to fund the reopening costs following the coronavirus pandemic.
Since Leeds Grand Theatre, City Varieties Music Hall and Hyde Park Picture House, which are part of Leeds Heritage Theatres, closed earlier this year, the company has lost 99 per cent of its income.
The income would be normally be earned through ticket, bar and merchandise sales but the venues were forced to close in March.
The company also had to furlough 96 per cent of its staff but has kept a small team to manage customer refunds, rescheduling performances and maintaining necessary administrative functions.
Leeds Heritage Theatres has been handed £119,900 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund which will go towards the reopening costs. The grant has been described as a lifeline.
Chris Blythe, chief executive officer of the group, said: “Since our venues ceased trading due to the pandemic we have been doing everything we can to ensure our survival throughout this period, as well as prepare for the economic uncertainty that will follow, including drawing on our reserves which we had planned to invest back into our three heritage buildings.
“This grant is a lifeline, and whilst it won’t quite see us out of the woods (we are waiting to hear if we have been successful in our bid for emergency funding from the government), we’re hugely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting us at this crucial time; it’s invaluable to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all.”
Ros Kerslake, chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.
“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Leeds Heritage Theatres during this uncertain time.”
Other charities and organisations across the UK affected by the pandemic are being given access to a comprehensive package of support of up to £600 million of repurposed money from The National Lottery.
This money is supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and span the arts, community, charity, heritage, education, environment and sports sectors.
