THREE Frome venues, who have received grants totalling £238,246 from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, have spoken of their relief and say their future is beginning to look brighter.
News of the funding has been welcomed by all three venues – the Cheese & Grain, 23 Bath St, and Black Swan Arts – and will help them create work and performances, and plan for reopening.
The Cheese & Grain has received £98,000; 23 Bath St has received £86,246; and Black Swan Arts has received £54,000.
“The venue is on its way back,” said the Cheese & Grain’s director, Steve Macarthur, who has also thanked the Arts Council England for the financial support, and the Music Venue Trust for its advice and guidance.
A spokesperson for the Cheese & Grain said, “The venue’s immediate future is looking a lot brighter. Work will now start on securing the return of live music to the venue for the first time since March, with shows planned from November.
“The recovery grant will part-subsidise otherwise uneconomic ‘Covid-Secure’ and ‘safe-distanced’ seated (cabaret-style) performances with limited capacity over the winter and through to the end of March.
“The grant only represents about 20% of the income the venue would normally see in a six-month period. As such, the venue will still hope for the continuation of the incredible support shown by its loyal customers by holding onto tickets for rescheduled shows, buying tickets for next year’s exciting live schedule and joining the venue’s Friends Scheme.”
A spokesperson for 23 Bath St said, “We are extremely grateful that we have been awarded a grant from the Cultural Recovery Fund – the show can go on!
“Thank you Arts Council England, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Music Venue Trust and all you lovely supporters. These funds will not only secure our immediate future, but it will enable us to do socially distanced live events, giving much needed work to artists and much needed joy to audiences.
“We know there are still many areas of the industry and venues that are struggling, join us in supporting them any way we can.”
Rebecca Morland, acting chair of trustees at Black Swan Arts said, “We are incredibly grateful for this support – it means an awful lot for us, as a small, volunteer-led, unfunded arts organisation. It will enable us to continue to work with local artists and makers, and continue as a valuable community resource for Frome.”
The Frome venues were three of 1,385 arts and cultural organisations across England to receive a share of £257million as part of a vital financial boost from the Government’s £1.57billion Culture Recovery Fund – 172 of the venues are located in the south west.
The 1,385 recipients are those that applied for grants of under £1million in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund, administered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Arts Council England.
Phil Gibby, area director, Arts Council England, South West said, “The Arts Council have been hard at work administering this share of the government’s £1.57billion towards the cultural sector over the past few months during this challenging time for us all, so I am pleased that we are able to announce support for 172 much loved cultural organisations in the south west through this first round of funding today.
“Arts and culture brings communities together and helps to enrich our lives – and this funding will help keep that alive, now and for generations to come – we are here for culture.”
