Leeds cultural sector welcomes government's £1.57bn bail out of museums, galleries and theatres

This morning the Government announced a £1.57bn support package to "protect" the future of Britain's museums, galleries and theatres.

It will also cover independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues which are also eligible for the emergency grants and loans.

The package comes after some theatres - which are not yet able to stage live performances - closed down, making staff redundant, amid the pandemic. Museums have also said they face an uncertain future, while 1,500 artists and acts signed a letter to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden calling for a road map for the live music industry.

Reacting to the news, Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House Ltd which manages the Leeds Grand Theatre, City Varieties Music Hall and the Hyde Park Picture House, said it was hopeful it would provide much needed support as it waits for news on when it can safely reopen doors for live performance.

A spokesperson said: "When we closed our doors on 17 March, we lost 99 per cent of our income. We’re currently managing on our reserves which we had planned to spend on improvements to our historic buildings and which are now rapidly diminishing.

"The Job Retention scheme has provided a life-line and we have currently furloughed 96 per cent of our staff, leaving a core team to manage refunds, rescheduling performances and planning for re-opening. The next phase to get the theatres back on their feet is a date for safe re-opening to enable us to start to generate income and bring audiences back to our much-loved venues.

The Government said the money "represents the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture" and will help struggling institutions "stay afloat while their doors are closed".

Mr Dowden said: "Our arts and culture are the soul of our nation. They make our country great and are the lynchpin of our world-beating and fast-growing creative industries.

"I understand the grave challenges the arts face and we must protect and preserve all we can for future generations.

"Today we are announcing a huge support package of immediate funding to tackle the funding crisis they face. I said we would not let the arts down, and this massive investment shows our level of commitment."

Kully Thiarai, Creative Director and CEO of Leeds 2023 said the news was "a lifeline" after months of anxiety and uncertainty.

"Across Leeds and West Yorkshire, the workers and performers in our region's great cultural institutions and the independent artists and venues embedded in communities, are waking

up to some positive news. After months of anxiety and uncertainty, the Government has thrown a much needed life-line that will help many stay afloat and plan for the future.

"Our region is brimming with creative talent and we can now, collectively, begin to think boldly about the future and ensure that this additional support reaches all parts of our diverse sector. Leeds 2023 is determined to play our role in the region's recovery and we will be working closely with all our colleagues, funding bodies and Government over

the coming months to forge a path ahead."

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post she thanked the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Culture Secretary for listening to the creative sector.

She added: "These are unprecedented times, and this is an unprecedented package of support; we will respond with imagination and creativity to support the next steps.”