Arts Council England has launched a £160m emergency package to help entertainment and leisure facilities that are suffering amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vital funds’ package is designed to help theatres, galleries, museums, entertainment venues, artists and freelancers in the industry, at a time when attraction sites have had to close across the UK.
The support package includes £90 million for National Portfolio Organisations, £20 million for individuals and £50 million for other organisations to in the National Portfolio.
Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England, commented: “COVID-19 is having an impact globally, far beyond the cultural sector – but our responsibility is to sustain our sector as best we can, so that artists and organisations can continue to nourish the imagination of people across the country, both during the crisis and in the period of recovery.”
“None of us can hope to weather this storm alone, but by working together in partnership, I believe we can emerge the stronger, with ideas shared, new ways of working, and new relationships forged at the local, national and even international level,” Serota added.
