Six West Leeds culture organisations have received lifeline financial support to get them through the next stage of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced details of more than 2,700 organisations being offered nearly £400 million in grants and loans to help the culture and heritage sector reopen and recover.
Recipients from the Culture Recovery Fund in West Leeds include:
- Armley-based Imagine If Theatre received £34,271. The theatre aims to educate the public about the causes and consequences of social and economic disadvantage through artistic performances and workshops.
- Open Source Arts, on Kirkstall Road, has netted £70,928 towards the next phase of re-opening and welcoming audiences back, as well as launching a new membership scheme!
- Production Light and Sound, based at Burley Hill Trading Estate, received £70,684
- Kirkstall Road-based Sound Dept Ltd received £25,662. The company provides audio solutions and technical support for live events, film and TV.
- Event specialists The Music Consortium Crewing Ltd, based at Castleton Mill in Armley, received £25,000.
- Zig Zag Lighting, based on Burley Hill Trading Estate, Burley Road, received £143,504. The company provides stage lighting.
The funding was welcomed by Open Source Arts’ Phil Marken. He posted on Facebook:
“This is a huge, massive and incredibly vital piece of support for Open Source Arts which not only enables us to now plan with certainty, but also to think about how we can grow the support for the cultural sector in Leeds, in creative ways both inside and outside our premises!
“This success is also, absolutely, HUGELY due to our incredible team, who have grown stronger, wiser and more connected during the last year – building their wisdom and committing all their learning and determination to keeping themselves well and helping Open Source Arts grow stronger by caring for themselves.
“They have helped us thrive as an organisation, building a strong core so that we can truly stand steadily in the months to come as we move to open our doors and welcome audiences into our space again.”
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.”
