DOZENS of projects across the North East are to receive funding as part of the latest cash boots from the Government's Culture Recovery Fund.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has announced that 925 cultural and creative organisations nationally will receive a share of £107 million in grants and loans as part of a vital financial boost to help those impacted by the pandemic.

As part of this announcement, funding of £774,883 has been awarded through the Arts Council to support seven organisations in the Tees Valley, as well as £915,112 to support 11 organisations in North Yorkshire and £1,157,967 to support 14 organisations across Newcastle and Gateshead.

Read more: What Darlington's Forum did to give 'purpose and hope' to local musicians during lockdown

Organisations receiving funding in the Tees Valley include:

£198,461 for Darlington Hippodrome, a theatre operated by Darlington Borough Council. £146,230 for Stockton ARC, a charity using activities such as workshops and classes to strengthen the local community.

£791,259 in Continuity Support grants will be awarded to 10 previous Culture Recovery Fund recipients in North Yorkshire, helping organisations survive and allowing them to resume programmes and events.

Read more: Darlington Hippodrome welcomes Cinderella pantomime this Christmas

Organisations receiving funding in North Yorkshire include:

£294,952 for York Theatre Royal, offering opportunities for people to participate in cultural activity, producing and presenting theatre in-person and online.

£80,000 for The Museum of North Craven Life, providing access to collections reflecting 350 years of local life and customs, forming an important research resource for the area’s social, cultural and economic history.

Funding of £1,157,967 has been awarded through the Arts Council to support 14 organisations in Newcastle and Gateshead.

Read more: Oh yes it is! Darlington's theatre back with Halloween panto after Covid nightmare

Organisations receiving funding in the area include:

£35,200 for Little Inventors, an organisation developing children's creativity.

£25,000 for The Globe, to expand its programme of music courses and workshops.

Sarah Maxfield, Area Director, North, Arts Council England said:

“The Culture Recovery Fund has been a lifeline to cultural organisations across the North of England.

"This unprecedented level of funding from the Government acknowledges the important role art and culture plays not only for the economic prosperity of the North but also for the quality of life of the people who live here.

"This investment will support many cultural organisations, including museums, art galleries, theatres, art centres and music venues, to continue to provide an essential creative service in person and online to communities throughout the North.”

Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries, said: “Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from.

“Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.”

Darlington MP Peter Gibson said: "I am delighted to see the Government continuing to support our Arts and Culture Sector as it recovers from the pandemic.

"This additional £198000 for our much loved Theatre takes the total support for the Hippodrome to almost £1.7m over the past 18 months, helping keep the show on the road here in Darlington."

Paul Burns, Chief Executive, Tees Music Alliance said: “The support from the Culture Recovery Fund Continuity Support programme has come at a crucial time, as organisations that programme live music are still in the very early stages of recovery after being locked down for so long. 

"Although there are positive signs, we still need audiences to return confidently to music events, and we want to get the message out that gigs are safe places.

"Investment from the Culture Recovery Fund will help us to do this.”

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