PARKWOOD THEATRES TO RECEIVE FUNDING AS PART OF CULTURE RECOVERY FUND

• Parkwood Theatres to receive £620,000 award from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund
• Parkwood’s four theatres among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
• This award will ensure financial stability for the theatre as it moves out of lockdown

Parkwood Theatres will receive a grant of £620,000 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Parkwood in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

Parkwood Theatres is a business unit within Parkwood Leisure, which operates more than 80 cultural and leisure facilities nationwide, including four theatres. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a particularly profound effect on the arts industries and this funding will provide the financial support required to offset the essential costs as the theatre transitions back to true operating capacity. Importantly it will mean Parkwood can retain the remaining highly skilled arts workforce to open the theatre safely and start the recovery.

Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced.

Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”

Tony Doherty, Managing Director, Parkwood Theatres, said: “This award which will be shared between all Parkwood run theatres is essential in allowing us to now focus on bringing all of our stages back to life. We are pleased that the Arts Council has recognised the importance and success of our operations, and are willing to support us in our quest to continue to provide a great range of cultural opportunities in the towns and regions our theatres serve.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: “Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.

We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”

The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.