Ely Museum is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
The award will support Ely Museum as it prepares to re-open to the public, following a Heritage Lottery Fund redevelopment which began in summer 2019
Ely Museum in Cambridgeshire has received a grant of £27,644 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 Ely Museum in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.
The grant will be used to support Ely Museum as it prepares to reopen to the public following a £2.2m redevelopment project which began in September 2019. With brand new engaging and interactive exhibits and new education facilities, this brilliant new space will provide fun for all the family.
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.”
Curator at Ely Museum, Elie Hughes, said:
“We are delighted to have received a Culture Recovery Fund grant at Ely Museum which will assist us in the much anticipated reopening of Ely Museum, following our exciting redevelopment program. The pandemic has caused several unavoidable delays in the project, but we look forward to opening soon and welcoming people back to our brilliant new museum”
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.
Press release from Ely Museum
Photo credit: Ely Museum
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