Mind the Gap to receive £33,915 award from second round of Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

Mind the Gap in Bradford has received a grant of £33,915 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 Mind the Gap in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

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 work towards reopening safely, create work together and reach live audiences once again.

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.

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.”

Julia Skelton, Mind the Gap’s Executive Director said: “Mind the Gap is delighted to be awarded £33,915 in this second round of the DCMS Culture Recovery Fund awards. It will make a huge difference in ensuring the safety of our team as the lockdown restrictions ease, and we work towards reaching live audiences and participants once again. These funds will be invested in additional Covid-19 testing, PPE and freelance staff costs so we can get back to making work for performance and touring. This last year has been really tough for the whole arts sector, especially freelancers and small organisations, so we are excited to be doing our bit towards the cultural sector’s recovery back to full strength.”

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.