The Lichfield Garrick has received a grant of £135,024 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 Lichfield Garrick in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today. 

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." 

Karen Foster, Lichfield Garrick Chief Executive said: 

“After a very difficult year for the Arts, the news that we have been successful in the second round of Emergency Funding for the Cultural sector means that we can now rebuild our programme of performances, outreach and community activities and plan for a future which brings arts and theatre to all of our communities. I am delighted that this funding will enable us to build a programme of re-engagement with schools, young people, our much-missed audiences and of course theatre practitioners as we develop a new show for Christmas.  We look forward to welcoming people of all ages back into the theatre and this funding enables us to enhance our covid-security measures for the safety of staff, volunteers and patrons. Our heartfelt thanks go to Arts Council England and DCMS for supporting the regional arts and offering the chance to plan for recovery.” 

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. 

• This award will boost the theatre’s production of outreach activities, as well as allowing for a new school liaison assistant. Enabling the theatre to reach further into the community and bring arts and theatre to more people of all ages and abilities. The accessibility of the theatre building will also be improved with the addition of a new stair lift, to ease pressure on our current lift and improve the experience for our customers.