DATE: April 2 2021

York Museums Trust has been awarded £423,226 from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

The funding will enable the Trust to reopen the Yorkshire Museum in the summer for the first time since March 2020, as well as helping the charity remain financially viable following losses of more than £3 million of income since the start of the pandemic.

The Trust, which looks after York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum and York St Mary’s as well as the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens, is one of thousands of cultural organisations across the country which has been awarded more than £300 million in the second round of support from the Government.

The charity was awarded £850,000 from the first round of funding in October 2020.

Reyahn King, chief executive of York Museums Trust, said: “This money is a lifeline for the Trust which gives us the support so badly needed following the devastating impact of the pandemic.

“We are delighted that it will allow us to reopen the Yorkshire Museum in the summer for the first time in over a year, we can’t wait to welcome visitors back to see some of the city’s, and the country’s, finest treasures.
“It will also ensure we remain financially viable as we hopefully begin to reopen all of our cultural venues in a way that enables us to welcome larger audiences and generate our own income once more.”

The reopening of the Yorkshire Museum in July will follow the planned reopening of York Castle Museum for guided tours on May 19 and York Art Gallery on May 28, with the major new exhibition Grayson Perry: The Pre-Therapy Years. 

The second round of funding awarded 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.

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.”

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.”

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.

ENDS 

Notes to Editors

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk 

 

Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies administering the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19.

At the Budget, the Chancellor announced the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund would be boosted with a further £300 million investment. Details of this third round of funding will be announced soon.