Mid Sussex arts organisations get thousands in grants from Culture Recovery Fund

The £1.57 billion scheme aims to help arts and entertainment groups recover and help venues reopen after the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to close.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced on Friday (April 2) that more than 2,700 creative groups in Britain would get a share of more than £400 million in grants and loans.

This includes more than £300 million in grants awarded through Arts Council England, Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.

Chequer Mead Arts and Community Trust is set to receive £73,525, while Annephen Ltd, an events company owned by Hassocks comedian Stephen Grant, will have access to £28,193.

Burgess Hill’s Orion cinema is being awarded £8,424 and Scott Cinemas @ The Atrium, East Grinstead, is getting £46,135.

Some 20 West Sussex organisations will benefit from this ‘second round’ of the Culture Recovery Fund with a combined total of £2,931,049 being awarded.

“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,” said culture secretary Oliver Dowden.

“Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors,” he added.

Hazel Edwards, south east area director at Arts Council England, said: “Thanks to the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, we can offer extra support to the arts and cultural sector in the South East.”

“From youth ballet to opera, theatre to grassroots music, the South East is brimming with cultural organisations that enrich the lives of local communities,” she added.

“This funding will make a real difference to these organisations as they get ready to welcome audiences and visitors again.”

The announcement on April 2 brings the government’s total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion across over 5,000 individual cultural organisations and sites.