Lichfield Cathedral to receive £364,400 from Culture Recovery Fund
Lichfield Cathedral has received a grant of £364,400 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help with recovery and reopening to visitors following the pandemic and various lockdowns.
Nearly £400 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country, including Lichfield Cathedral in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund.
Lichfield Cathedral has been able to remain open for worship, adhering to strict Covid guidelines. It has also offered its services to the NHS as a giant vaccination centre for the people of Lichfield. But, in line with all ‘indoor attractions’, the doors have had to remain closed to tourists and visitors.
Inevitably this has led to the loss of vital income as well as extra expenditure involved in keeping the Cathedral Covid-secure. The grant from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund will be used on essential works to the building and on core operating costs as the Cathedral looks ahead to a full summer programme, continues its recovery and prepares to reopen for visitors.
Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
This brings the Government's total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion across over 5,000 individual cultural and heritage organisations and sites.
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."
Ros Kerslake, CEO of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Spring is definitely here, bringing not only sunshine but that sense of optimism and hope for the future. We are all looking forward to heritage places and other visitor attractions reopening and I am very pleased that we have been able to support DCMS in delivering this vital funding to ensure the UK’s heritage sector can rebuild and thrive, boosting local economies, creating jobs and supporting personal wellbeing.”
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said:
“The value of our heritage sites and the people who run them has been amply demonstrated, as they have provided an anchor for so many of us through the dark days of the last year. Vital grants from the Culture Recovery Fund have helped them survive and will now help them recover, as the places we all cherish start to reopen in the months ahead.”
This project is funded by the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage. The Culture Recovery Fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, using funds provided by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.