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Blackheath Halls recognised in second round of funding from Culture Recovery Fund

Fri 30 October 2020

Blackheath Halls has been awarded £76,043 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future. 

Blackheath Halls is one of 588 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support – with £76 million of investment announced this week. This follows £257 million awarded to 1,385 organisations, also from the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Opened in 1895 as part of the oldest purpose-built cultural complex in London, Blackheath Halls runs a full programme of activity including performances, hires and community engagement projects welcoming over 40,000 participants a year.

Thanks to Culture Recovery Fund support – along with ongoing donations from our generous audiences and participants – the venue is in a position to cover its overheads until the end of March 2021 and to continue a limited number of Covid-secure live events including socially distanced recitals and some community engagement activity.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said –

“This is more vital funding to protect cultural gems across the country, save jobs and prepare the arts to bounce back. Through Arts Council England we are delivering the biggest ever investment in the arts in record time. Hundreds of millions of pounds are already making their way to thousands of organisations.

“These awards build on our commitment to be here for culture in every part of the country.”

Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said –

“Culture is an essential part of life across the country, helping to support people’s wellbeing through creativity and self-expression, bringing communities together, and fuelling our world class creative industries.

“This latest set of awards from the Culture Recovery Fund builds on those announced recently and will help hundreds of organisations to survive the next few months, ensuring that the cultural sector can bounce back after the crisis.  We will continue doing everything we can to support artists and cultural and creative organisations, with further funding to be announced in the coming weeks.”

Director of Blackheath Halls, Gemma Okell, said –

“We are relieved and grateful to have received this support from the Culture Recovery Fund. This year we have seen first-hand the crucial importance of the arts and culture to so many people’s lives and well-being. We are delighted that with this government funding, combined with the generosity of our audiences, donors, artists and friends, we can continue to operate and hopefully return to a full programme of activity again next year.”

Visit the Blackheath Halls YouTube channel to see the results of their online activity to date including original film A Journey Through The Rake’s Progress.

See the website for a list of future events.