Leeds live music venue saved as part of £4.4m Covid rescue package for city's culture

Northern Guitars Cafe Bar Limited on Call Lane is one of 26 diverse arts and cultural organisations in Leeds to benefit from a Government funding boost totalling £4.4m.

The venue, which supports young bands and start up gigs, was closed for four months during lockdown and has not been able to stage any gigs since reopening in July.

Co-director Rick Wade said he is delighted after the business was granted £55,171 in a funding bid coordinated by the Music Venue Alliance.

Mr Wade said the business was thriving before lockdown but was badly hit by the lengthy closure followed by restrictions when it was allowed to open.

Mr Wade said: "It would have been bleak. If we hadn't had the money we would have been closing the business.

"We are extremely happy and delighted to have received the funding."

The Harewood House Trust gets £695,556.

Jane Marriott, Trust Director of independent charity Harewood House Trust, said: "This income helps us to protect, share and celebrate this wonderful house and grounds which is such an integral part of Yorkshire.

"Like many of our colleagues, Harewood's total closure earlier in the year placed us in such a difficult financial situation, facing over £1m in losses.

"However, the combination of our visitors’ support and a significant grant from the Culture Recovery Fund, enabled by resources from the Department for Culture Media and Sport has secured Harewood’s future recovery."

East Leeds based East Street Arts was granted £245,000.

Nicola Greenan, chair of East Street Arts board of Trustees, said: “Receiving the funds is a huge relief for us and will enable us to plug a big gap in the viability and sustainability of The Art Hostel.

"However we recognise that this vital support must also have an impact on artists and freelancers in the cultural sector, East Street Arts we will strive to do as much as we can to support our community.”

The cash has been awarded through the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, with a total of £257m awarded across the country yesterday (Oct 12).

The Government said the investment in Leeds will help save 26 theatres, galleries, performance groups, arts organisations, museums and local venues facing the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Popular music and arts venue the Brudenell Social at Club at Hyde Park gets £220,429 while Northern Ballet has been awarded £744,798.

Other beneficiaries in Leeds include Akito Limited, £64,645 and Alchemy Leeds Ltd, £229,605.

It is the first wave of funding to be awarded - with millions more set to be announced in coming weeks.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Arts Council England yesterday announced that 1,385 arts and cultural organisations are to receive a share of £257 million as part of a vital financial boost from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

Yesterday's recipients are those that applied for grants of under £1 million in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund.

The funding will help organisations create work and performances, and plan for reopening.

Although many were still active in lockdown, using creative ways to reach audiences.

It is the biggest tranche of funding distributed to date from the Culture Recovery Fund, and the first in a series of announcements on the funding programmes administered by Arts Council England.

Applicants for grants of over £1m as well as those who applied to round two of the fund and the Repayable Finance programme, will be notified of their outcomes shortly.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “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.

Sarah Maxfield, Area Director North, Arts Council England said: "The cultural sector makes a huge contribution to The North’s economy, quality of life and communities. Today we are announcing much needed investment and support from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund to a group of organisations across the North - with more announcements in the coming weeks - providing an essential lifeline so the cultural sector can survive and come back strongly in the future.”

Other succesful applocants in Leeds were Ayre Ltd, £80,000; Futuresond Events Ltd, £219,368; Interplay Theatre Trust, £53,838; Leeds Craft Centre, £50,000; Lord Whitney, £111, 689; Lumen Arts; £55,000; Mint Warehouse Ltd, £166.738; Orchestras Live, £92,846; Project Sopace Leeds, 123,000; Pyramid of Arts, £67,867; Seven Arts Leeds CIC, £50,000; Slam Dunk Limited, £175,981; Slung Low Limited, £98,255; Thackray Medical Museum £373,281; The Domino Club £100,000; The Music Consortium Crewing Ltd, £50,000; The Wardrobe, £174,787; wharf chambers cooperative club £103,842 and Hyde Park Book Club, £91,000.