We are delighted to announce that Spymonkey have been successful in their application to the Cultural Recovery Fund.
MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: 2nd APRIL 2021
Spymonkey to receive £68,871k from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund
Spymonkey is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
This award will allow Spymonkey to continue to operate over the next few months, in anticipation of being able to gradually able to return to production and education activities through the rest of 2021
Spymonkey, Britain’s longest running comedy theatre ensemble, based in Brighton & Hove, has received a grant of £68,871 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.
More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Spymonkey in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.
This grant will enable Spymonkey to continue to exist, to carry out some much-needed organisational development work including a new diversity strategy, investigating the changes in employment regulations due to Brexit, and the first stage of development of a new touring show that is planned for autumn 2022.
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.
The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.
Toby Park, Managing Artistic Director of Spymonkey, said:
“Thanks to the Arts Council for awarding this grant to us. This is much needed investment in Spymonkey’s future. Unsurprisingly for an independent theatre company who receive no regular funding, and who are reliant on performing and teaching, our income streams have completely dried up since lockdown.
This grant means that we can keep our brilliant team of dedicated freelancers intact and continue to be productive over the next few months in preparation for the return of live theatre and our teaching programme. There is a huge amount to do in terms of company development – we have been on tenterhooks waiting for an answer about this grant. Now that our short-term future is assured we can press the GO button on all the things we’ve been waiting to confirm – consultation and implementation of a much-needed diversity strategy, the first stages of development of new touring work for 2022, keeping ourselves abreast of changes to employment law and our ability to work in USA and Europe post-Brexit.”
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.”
The funding awarded today 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.
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.