Palace Theatre Paignton awarded £28,070 from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

The theatre is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. This award will enable the Palace to offer a full programme of events as lockdown measures are eased in the weeks and months to come.

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including the Palace Theatre in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced on 2 April.

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. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.

Palace Theatre Director, Deirdre Makepeace, explains the importance of this grant: ‘When we took over the management of the theatre in May 2018, we were strongly focused on making the theatre pay its way, to ensure that it would be there for the community in the long term. Nobody foresaw the devastating impact Covid would have and there is no question that the support we have received from Arts Council England has been an absolute lifesaver. We can now look forward to a successful comeback after months of closure.’

 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.”

 Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said:

“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work. 

 We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”

2020 saw show after show being postponed or cancelled, including the award-winning Panto and the internationally popular Agatha Christie summer run. The Palace Theatre will hold its first event on 20 May which is, very appropriately, a talk by the Directors of Bijou Theatre Productions, telling the story of the 65-year-old organisation that has brought so much high-quality theatre to the town. Long may it continue! Live performances then start with The Zoots on 29 and 30 May.

The Palace Theatre Paignton