The National Maritime Museum Cornwall (NMMC) has been awarded £485k through the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says investment is a vital “boost” for “cultural beacons” across the country.
In the south west this investment will help save 172 theatres, galleries, performance groups, arts organisations, museums and music venues facing the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, to ensure they have a sustainable future and continue to bring joy to local communities and international audiences.
Today’s recipients are those that applied for grants of under £1 million in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund. This funding will help organisations create work and performances, and plan for reopening.
NMMC director, Richard Doughty called the funding a “a real lifeline”.
He said: “Since lockdown in March, National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s future has been uncertain. Vital revenue streams disappeared overnight, and our ability to remain a part of our community, here in Cornwall, felt impossible.
“The news we have been awarded such a significant sum from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund is a real lifeline for us. We are hugely grateful to Arts Council England for recognising the quality of the artistically ambitious programming our Museum is delivering in the south west. This grant will help secure our work for the foreseeable future and will enable us to keep our doors open to our visitors.”
The museum is just one of 13 organisations to receive first round funding. Others include Penzance’s Golowan Festival (£50k), Bernard Leach Trust (£53k), Cornwall Music Service Trust (249k), Cornwall Theatre Company (£82k), Creative Kernow (£50k), Golden Tree Productions (£81k), Miracle Theatre (£72k), Museum of Cornish Life (£56k), Nubsound (£75k), Telegraph Museum Porthcurno (£164k), Truro Business Hub (£219k), Whiskers Newquay (£127k).
