DOZENS of North East cultural organisations have received a funding boost to help them overcome the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Organisations will receive a share of the final £35 million emergency support package from the Culture Recovery Fund, which has thrown a lifeline to theatres, museums, independent cinemas and other arts organisations.
More than £1.5 million has been awarded to organisations in the North East, building on almost £50 million already awarded from the Culture Recovery Fund to organisations in the region.
Since August 2020, the Culture Recovery Fund has distributed £1.57 billion to around 5,000 organisations and sites across the country.
A £26,322 grant has been awarded to The Auxiliary Project Space in Middlesbrough to help the artist-led organisation to fully open to the public and develop their digital resources.
Anna Byrne, executive director, said: “This funding comes at a pivotal time as we emerge from the effects of Covid -19. It allows us to make the full transition of opening up to the public, and supports our team and building with essential resources. We can now face 2022 with a renewed sense of confidence as we build towards the future.”
The Durham-based Ghostwriter Consultancy & Events, which organises events for world-famous pop stars and bands across the UK, secured £383,915 in the final round of funding.
Meanwhile, family theatre company Minor Entertainment, based in Stockton, received £318,968.
Rainton Arena, a 2,000-seater versatile events venue in Houghton-le-Spring, received a £180,804 boost after its finances took a hit during the coronavirus pandemic.
Previous recipients of the Cultural Recovery Fund include Darlington Hippodrome, which received £198,461 to offset losses from cancelled productions, retain jobs, secure the long-term future of the theatre and secure the purchase of new state-of-the-art cinema screening equipment.
The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle received £704,161 to go into the museum’s reserves. The rest was used in a number of areas, including undertaking major audience development analysis, which will allow the museum to reach potential new audiences, building a classroom and shelters in the grounds.
See the full list below:
The Net North Shields - £33,300, North Tyneside
Acumen Community Buildings Ltd - £16,700, Sunderland
The Creative Seed CIC - £38,000, South Tyneside
Little Buildings - £20,288, Newcastle
Family Tickets, £140,964 - Stockton-on-Tees
Loft Productions LLP - £22,500, Newcastle
International Guitar Foundation & Festivals - £28,140, Newcastle
The Auxiliary Project Space - £26,322, Middlesbrough
CIRCUS FANTASIA - £80,000, Gateshead
Tony Hopkins Entertainments Ltd - £39,468, Gateshead
STREET HASSLE LTD - £26,646, Sunderland
Minor Entertainment - £318,968, Stockton-on-Tees
Ghostwriter Consultancy & Events - £383,915, County Durham
NTC Touring Theatre Company Ltd - £51,106, Northumberland
NEMFCIC - £25,000, Gateshead
Rainton Arena ltd - £180,804, Sunderland
Workplace Foundation - £75,000, Newcastle
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here