Venues across East Lancashire have been given a £1,735,793 lifeline in a Government attempt to save the arts and culture industry.

Included in the measures are Blackburn's King George’s Hall and Darwen Library Theatre which have been awarded £364,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The fund has been set up to help music venues, theatres, museums, and places of cultural heritage across the country as they struggle with the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lancashire Telegraph:

A total of 13 venues in East Lancashire have benefitted from a share of the investment, in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England.

More than £257million from the first round, announced on Monday, will also ensure places such Burnley Youth Theatre, the Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery in Rossendale, and Pendle Leisure can have a sustainable future.

The full list of cultural venues and organisations receiving support in East Lancashire are as follows:

  • £50,000 - Bacup Royal Court Theatre Group
  • £364,000 - Blackburn - King George's Hall and Darwen Library Theatre
  • £82,000 - Blackburn with Darwen - Lite Alternative Ltd
  • £116,476 - Burnley Borough Council, for museums within the borough
  • £336,597 - Burnley Leisure, for theatres within the borough
  • £59,448 - Burnley Youth Theatre
  • £69,279 - Burnley - Jobe Entertainment Music
  • £70,205 - Burnley Mid-Pennine Arts
  • £68,000 - Hyndburn Arts Limited
  • £89,270 - Hyndburn - idle women combined arts
  • £185,543 - Pendle Leisure Ltd
  • £89,600 - Rossendale - Dansworks Dance Academy of Performing Arts CIC
  • £155,375 - Rossendale - Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s executive member for leisure and culture, Cllr Damian Talbot, said: "This is very welcome news from the Arts Council England and means we can secure the future of both venues for at least the next six months and start to bring performances back to Darwen earlier than would have been possible.

"The aim is to be able to pay artists fairly while we are unable to fill the theatres to capacity, and also means the start of an exciting archive project for people to get involved with until a full programme of events can begin again.

"The positive response from the local community to the recent Crowdfunder campaigns shows how valued these venues are and this grant helps bridge the gap for when theatres can return to a more normal operation.

"Any support is welcome but we know this is a difficult time for everyone and we will continue to lobby the government for more funding.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

The 13 East Lancashire venues are among 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support.

Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe said: "I am delighted that Hyndburn arts Limited and Idle Women Arts are to benefit from this urgently needed support.

"This will be welcome news and a lifeline to both. As someone who has grown up involved in performing arts and even performing at the Civic Theatre, I recognise how important they are to our local communities."

Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.

MP for Pendle Andrew Stephenson said: “I am delighted that Pendle Leisure is being significantly backed by the Government through the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

"Their work plays a vitally important role in supporting fitness and health within all our local communities.”