A cash injection of nearly £130m has been confirmed for 130 local cultural venues, museums, and libraries.
The package of £127.8m is being provided by the Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with the aim of future-proofing the venues for communities and widening access to arts and culture.
Among the organisations to benefit from the boost are Worthing Borough Council (over £371k), Kent County Council (£865k), North Kesteven District Council (over £107k), Hartlepool Borough Council (nearly £2.5m), and Suffolk County Council (£500k).
Delivered as part of the Government’s Arts Everywhere Fund, the investment consists of three parts:
- The Creative Foundations Fund (CFF), which has seen £96m targeted towards 74 arts and cultural venues – assisting theatres, performing arts venues, galleries and grassroots music venues with urgent infrastructure and accessibility improvements.
- The Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), which involves an allocation of £25.5m to 28 museums also in need of infrastructure upgrades.
- The Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) and its distribution of £6.3m to 28 library services for building and technology enhancements.
The sum is an instalment in the wider £1.5bn package designed to support over 1,000 of England’s arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings.
Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said: ‘Across the country, people take real pride in where they come from. Our local arts, museums and libraries are a big part of that, telling our stories, reflecting who we are, and bringing communities together.’
She added: ‘Arts and culture aren’t a luxury for a privileged few. They are for everyone, everywhere. They bring people together, open doors, and support our shared sense of belonging. That’s the role they can play as we build a stronger future for our country.’
