Runnymede and Weybridge has been awarded £1,025,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure local arts, cultural and heritage organisations have a sustainable future.
Brooklands Museum Trust & Tenors Un Limited are two of the 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the CRF grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
Brooklands Museum, established in 1991, is a celebration of our transport and engineering history. Forced to close during lockdown, the Museum is already open again for visitors thanks to its dedicated team of staff and volunteers and is keen to continue its ambitious plans for the future.
Tenors Un Limited, established in 2002, ‘the Rat Pack of Opera’, is another local success, using the groups operatic talents to put on shows combining popular opera, musical theatre, crooner standards and original songs, and performing for audiences across the globe. Due to the pandemic Tenors Un Limited have had to cancel planned tour dates. The funding announced today will help support them and hundreds of other organisations across the country.
Dr Ben Spencer MP said:
The announcement of more than £1 million in funding for Brooklands Museum and Tenors Un Limited in Runnymede and Weybridge is fantastic news. The arts, culture and heritage sectors have been hugely affected by the pandemic.
Having been forced to live without them this summer, we realise even more how valuable they are to our quality of life. I am delighted the Government has been able to support Brooklands Museum Trust & Tenors Un Limited, and 1,300 other creative organisations in this way.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.
Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:
Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.
