Grant award for Cheltenham Festivals from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

Cheltenham Festivals has received a grant of £290,000 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen. 

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Cheltenham Festivals in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

Cheltenham Festivals forged ahead in 2020 with a digital programme, culminating in an award-winning hybrid Literature Festival in October which reached its largest ever audience. This additional grant puts the organisation in a strong position to deliver a full programme of Festivals and outreach work again this year and build on Cheltenham Festivals’ digital transformation.

Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead. 

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:“Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced. Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead."

Cheltenham Festivals Leadership Team said:“This second grant from the Culture Recovery Fund will ensure that Cheltenham Festivals can continue to create cultural experiences which bring joy, deepen curiosity, connect communities and inspire change. Without this crucial support from DCMS, Cheltenham Festivals would have struggled to survive the impact of the pandemic due to the loss of live events and box office receipts.

Thank you for this incredible investment and confidence in Cheltenham Festivals and culture in the South West.“

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: “Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work. 

We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”

The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.