KINGS PLACE [London] has been awarded £562,000as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced.
KINGS PLACE is one of 588 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support – with £76 million of investment announced. This follows £257 million awarded earlier in the week to 1,385 organisations, also from the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
Executive & Artistic Director Helen Wallace, said:
‘We are deeply grateful that KINGS PLACE has been announced as a recipient of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund. We would like to thank the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Arts Council for recognising KINGS PLACE’S position at the heart of a community of ensembles, freelance musicians, arts charities, promoters, podcasters, technicians and diverse audiences. It’s a huge vote of confidence in the work we do.’
In the most devastating year in the venue’s 12 year history, this invaluable support will enable us to retain our dedicated core team and work with our family of artistic partners to present a vibrant programme in the next six months, both in our Covid-secure hall and online.
Since August we have run more than 100 events, from one-on-one Culture Clinics to acclaimed concerts to the London Podcast Festival, and developed an exciting digital platform to share our work. This funding also allows us to continue to offer spaces to music education charities, community groups, and for schools and family concerts.
With 70% of seats lost in our halls, Kings Place remains in an extremely fragile position. But this grant, and the generous support of our audiences, have given us the wherewithal and courage to continue our mission to enrich lives through music and spoken word.’
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“This is more vital funding to protect cultural gems across the country, save jobs and prepare the arts to bounce back. Through Arts Council England we are delivering the biggest ever investment in the arts in record time. Hundreds of millions of pounds are already making their way to thousands of organisations.
“These awards build on our commitment to be here for culture in every part of the country.”
Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:
“Culture is an essential part of life across the country, helping to support people’s wellbeing through creativity and self-expression, bringing communities together, and fuelling our world class creative industries.
“This latest set of awards from the Culture Recovery Fund builds on those announced recently and will help hundreds of organisations to survive the next few months, ensuring that the cultural sector can bounce back after the crisis. We will continue doing everything we can to support artists and cultural and creative organisations, with further funding to be announced in the coming weeks.”