Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Theatre Royal Wakefield and The Art House among Wakefield groups awarded £1.6m in grants from Cultural Recovery Fund

The Culture Recovery Fund offers grants to those in the creative industry who have suffered financially as a result of the pandemic.

And it has now been revealed that groups and businesses in Wakefield are set to receive almost £1.6m in support from the service.

Theatre Royal Wakefield, who were awarded a grant of £475,000, said they were "incredibly grateful" for the support, but would continue their fundraising efforts to secure funding for their future.

Executive director Katie Town said: "In supporting us with this funding, Arts Council England have acknowledged the hard work of the Theatre’s team and stringent measures taken thus far to ensure our survival.

"We are incredibly grateful for the faith that they have shown in us. It is not certain how long theatres will have to remain closed.

"Theatre Royal Wakefield has some particular challenges around social distancing that need to be solved.

"So whilst this grant is fantastic news for the performing arts in Wakefield, we will continue our fundraising efforts to ensure that one day, the lights will go back on."

Among others awarded grants were the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, who will receive £804,013 in support, and the Art House, who have secured a grant of £161,000.

Sydney Thornbury, CEO and Artistic Director of The Art House said: "The Art House is grateful and humbled to have been successful in our Cultural Recovery Fund application.

"This support is vital for arts organisations right now, as we are all facing increased costs against depleted revenue and continuing economic uncertainty.

"While this funding will help ensure that The Art House can continue its important work for the people of Wakefield and some of the most marginalised artists in the sector, it is also important to stress that the conditions under which we wrote these applications has already worsened.

"There are thousands of arts professionals still facing or dealing with unemployment. Theatres are still closed.

"We urge the government to work more closely with the sector to do everything in its power to protect this precious and valuable sector so that it can successfully weather this unprecedented period."

Other recipients of the fund were Pontefract's Isophase Audio Ltd, who secured £75,064, and the West Yorkshire Theatre Dance Centre in Ossett, who were awarded £79,835.