LOWRY CEO RESPONDS TO £1.6BN DCMS FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT

With the possibility of some cultural venues facing closure until next year, the culture secretary Oliver Dowden has announced a package of almost £1.6bn in an effort to provide a lifeline for thousands of art venues that have been hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown.

However, there are real concerns that the grants and loans may come too late for some venues, prompting the Chief Exec of the Lowry to issue a statement warning that time is of the essence if jobs and businesses are to survive.

Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry, said:

Quote

 

“The announcement of £1.57bn of emergency investment in the UK’s culture sector is welcome news, but we are fast running out of time.

“This lifeline will come too late for some organisations who have already been forced to close their doors for good or made valued employees redundant.

“While we await precise details of the funding mechanisms, I would remind Government that the priority now must be to get these much-needed funds to the organisations most at risk – and fast. 

“In doing so, they can help save programmes of work and thousands of jobs across our sector that will otherwise fall victim to COVID.”

 

With pubs and cinemas in the process of reopening, some have questioned why the theatres are being prevented from following suit with similar measures and precautions put in place to ensure public safety.