£3,660,000 Cultural Recovery Fund investment for Dorset

Dorset’s cultural organisations will benefit from £3.66 million of the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund in a recent investment announcement.

Social enterprise BH Live, one of the region’s leading leisure and event operators, has been awarded £2,499,531 to help secure the future of live events and protect the provision of theatre, live performance and cultural events for all in communities across Dorset and the south coast, in popular event spaces including the Bournemouth Pavilion and the arena at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC).

A BH Live representative said: “We will be able to retain some of our talented team and bring forward essential investment in service and event technology which is now needed more than ever. It will enable us to meet ongoing costs while our venues are in hibernation and assist us in getting our venues ready and COVID-secure – providing essential reassurance for our customers and colleagues.”

Lighthouse, Poole’s centre for the arts, has been awarded £987,964. The grant will provide a lifeline for Lighthouse’s COVID-19 recovery efforts until they are able to welcome back capacity audiences. The Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum has also been awarded £225,000 of the Cultural Recovery Fund to make improvements support the sustainability of the museum’s future. 

Oliver Dowden, Culture Secretary has shared: “This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”

Lorna Carver, Dorset LEP Director, said: “This investment from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund is excellent news for Dorset, providing crucial cultural organisations with a much-needed lifeline.  We continue to strive to ensure Dorset is a place of creative and cultural excellence, which this investment will undoubtedly support.”

Earlier this year Dorset LEP invested £50,000 in the Crowdfund Dorset Business campaign to support regional micro and small businesses across Dorset access up to £5,000 in match-funding as they seek solutions as a result of COVID-19. Dorset LEP have supported four projects via this campaign that support arts and culture within the county. Applications are still open at: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/crowdfund-dorset-business