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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Tom Houghton

The Lowry will receive millions of pounds from Government to help it survive pandemic

The Lowry will receive millions of pounds worth of Government funds to help it through the coronavirus pandemic.

The Manchester theatre and gallery complex today announced the "lifeline" £3m funding, adding that it will help rebuild its programmes and create Covid-secure spaces.

The money has come as part of the second set of grants from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England's £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund, totalling almost £19m for eight major UK cultural organisations.

It's hoped to make a "huge contribution" to England’s cultural life, providing theatre experiences for audiences and local communities.

Julia Fawcett, chief executive at The Lowry, said: “Thank you to the Arts Council and the Government for the grant of £3m from the Cultural Recovery Fund. This fund has provided a vital lifeline to many arts organisations up and down the country and we are incredibly grateful for the support that it will provide to The Lowry. 

"Since being forced to close our doors back in March we have done our best to continue to serve our audiences, support our staff and provide creative opportunities for artists and communities - all in the face of losing 93% - £12m - of our income and the very real threat of permanent closure.

"With this much-needed grant, we can begin the task of rebuilding our artistic and engagement programmes and continue to play our part in the cultural ecology in the North of England with confidence.

"We’ll use it to make our galleries, theatre auditoria, workshop studios and employee areas socially distant, Covid-19 secure spaces. We’ll also extend our work in the local community in Salford, ensuring some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens are supported through this crisis."

They funds follow a first round of similar sized grants and two rounds of grants below £1m announced last month.

That first round included almost £3m for the M&S Bank Arena and conference centre in Liverpool, announced last month.

Further announcements on the Culture Recovery Fund will be made in the coming weeks, the Government said.

Ms Fawcett added: "Culture is an essential part of our fabric of life and the arts will play a key role as the nation recovers from the pandemic. Never before has the freedom to come together with friends, family and strangers to experience culture - in all its forms - been more important.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, said: “These grants will help the places that have shaped our skylines for hundreds of years and that continue to define culture in our towns and cities.

"From St Paul’s and Ronnie Scott’s to The Lowry and Durham Cathedral, we’re protecting heritage and culture in every corner of the country to save jobs and ensure it can bounce back strongly.”

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