City Theatres to receive £125,000 from culture fund

Chelmsford City Theatres have received a grant of £125,000 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The money will help the arts sector in Chelmsford to recover and reopen. The Civic and Cramphorn Theatres, in the city’s west end, are a hub for the city’s artistic and dramatic communities and support many local freelance artists.

Ian Knowles, theatre manager, said, “I’m excited about the opportunities and options that this funding has opened up for us. This will enable us to put real live productions on stage and outdoors at the end of an extremely difficult 12 months for everyone in the entertainment industry – it’s a light at the end of the tunnel for the arts.”

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund. This round of awards will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening.

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

The theatres are now busy planning several outdoor performances to entertain and amaze Essex residents as restrictions ease. To be first to hear the details, sign up for the Chelmsford Theatres and Events mailing list at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/mailinglist.