Mind the Gap receives vital grant from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund

Mind the Gap has been awarded £150,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.

Mind the Gap is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.

Mind the Gap is one of Europe’s leading companies that creates live performance experiences with learning-disabled artists taking centre stage. This DCMS grant funding will ensure the company can continue to develop its work, and explore new digital technology and film opportunities, so that learning-disabled artists can play their role in England’s cultural recovery.

It will be invested in new artistic activity including film outputs and broadcast that build on the success of recent live touring productions like ‘a little space’, which was co-produced with internationally renowned physical theatre company Gecko. It will also enable Mind the Gap to explore new projects and ways of working, including a family show in collaboration with fellow Bradford company 509 Arts. The majority of this investment will be used to support the involvement of freelance artist practitioners and small organisations, who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the arts and cultural sector.

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.

“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”

Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”

Julia Skelton, Mind the Gap’s Executive Director said: “Mind the Gap is delighted to be awarded this vital DCMS grant funding totalling £150,000. Our sector has been badly affected by the impacts of the pandemic and we recognise that we are privileged to have been awarded a share of the Culture Recovery Fund. We will ensure that this is invested in targeted ways so that it benefits learning-disabled artists and their work for the long-term as well as tackling immediate priorities. Our plans are particularly focused on creative activities within our home base of Bradford, including new innovations using digital technologies, and supporting freelance artists and small organisations who face particular challenges right now.”