The UK government has today announced it will make available £1.57bn to help UK theatres, galleries, museums and other cultural venues, many of which have been closed since March.
Venues, which also includes heritage sites and independent music venues, will have to apply to the government for an emergency grant or loans.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “This money will help safeguard the sector for future generations, ensuring arts groups and venues across the UK can stay afloat and support their staff whilst their doors remain closed and curtains remain down.”
The government introduced a five-stage plan of how theatres and arts venues will start to operate again.
Stage One – Rehearsal and training (no audiences and following social distancing guidelines)
Stage Two – Performances for broadcast and recording purposes (following social distancing guidelines)
Stage Three – Performances outdoors with an audience plus trials of indoor performances with a limited, socially- distanced audience
Stage Four – Performances allowed indoors/outdoors (but with a limited distanced audience indoors)
Stage Five – Performances allowed indoors/outdoors (with a fuller audience indoors)
Currently venues such as the Wyvern Theatre and the Arts Centre are allowed to operate up to stage two, there is no news as yet when they will likely be able to move to stage three.
Laura James, Wyvern Theatre Director said: “The government’s announcement is welcome news indeed for our sector and should go some way to support and sustain the UK’s vital arts and creative industries.
“We now eagerly await further details to better understand the qualifying criteria and how the money will be allocated. “
