AIM Chair welcomes early Culture Recovery Fund announcements

Over 1,300 theatres, museums, orchestras and music venues in England are to receive crucial support for the next six months as part of the UK Government’s £1.57bn culture recovery fund.

The £257m announced today will be distributed by Arts Council England to venues and organisations that applied for a maximum of £1m of funding. Further announcements relating to applications of up to £3m are expected in due course.

Welcoming the news, AIM Chair, Andrew Lovett said

“I cannot overstate the significance of the announcements being made today. Arts Council England, with resources allocated by the UK Government in its Culture Recovery Fund, has stepped-up to save regional museums – the story-tellers and keepers of our nation’s heritage – from extinction.

This support isn’t spending. It is an investment in something the people of this country value deeply with pride, fascination and affection. I commend the action being taken today.

We all know that huge challenges remain, including for those large and familiar civic museums in our major towns and cities, and I feel especially awful for those people working in museums who have already lost their jobs. However, this Government funding is putting the brakes on the decline we have all seen since COVID-19 struck.

There is now greater optimism that our wonderful museums can survive, be able to adapt and be in a position to thrive once more. We need them to do what they do best, bring added meaning to our lives.”