An investment of £1.5bn is to be delivered by the Government to save over 1,000 local cultural venues.

The funding for cultural organisations such as museums, arts venues, libraries, and heritage buildings is designed to restore national and local pride, as well as bringing communities together.

In an announcement yesterday, the Government said the move is part of its wider aims to help families with the cost of living, while providing more opportunities for people to participate in arts and culture.

With the cultural sector currently supporting 700,000 jobs across England, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has said the funding will generate thousands more jobs in the coming years.

The boost will see £100m allocated to local museums for costs such as maintenance backlogs and bills, with the DCMS predicting that up to 200 sites across England will benefit from the investment.

It will also involve financial support being delivered to historically under-funded areas and follows the Government’s £270m investment last year in the Arts Everywhere Fund, which seeks to promote the growth of local cultural and creative industries, with a focus on supporting disadvantaged areas.

Of the £1.5bn funding package, museums will receive £760m, the Creative Foundations Fund will benefit from £425m, a further £230m will be allocated to the protection of heritage buildings (including listed places of worship), £27.5m will be distributed to the Libraries Improvement Fund, and £80m is to be allocated to National Portfolio organisations.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the funding will help to preserve venues facing risk of closure and unlock millions of opportunities for British people.

She added: ‘At a time when forces seek to divide us, arts, culture and heritage are what bind us together. Our local cultural institutions aren’t just buildings — they’re part of who we are as a nation, they help tell our national story’, she added.

Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Committee, said: ‘This investment is positive for communities across the country, which will help cultural institutions stabilise, address urgent maintenance needs, and begin to plan for growth rather than simply survival.

‘Councils play a vital role as stewards of libraries, museums and heritage buildings that sit at the heart of local identity and pride, and we are pleased council run venues will be eligible for support.’

Abigail Pogson, CEO of the Barbican said: ‘Today’s announcement shows how valuable arts and culture is to the UK and how committed the Government is to supporting the sector.

‘Beyond a sizeable contribution to the economy, arts and culture enriches people’s lives, fosters connection, nurtures talent, and improves wellbeing.’