Hall for Cornwall to receive £85,000 from third round of Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

More than £100 million has been awarded to 925 cultural organisations across the country including Hall for Cornwall in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today (19th November).

Hall for Cornwall has been awarded a grant of £85,000 to cover bringing on new staff and other running costs as it prepares to fully reopen the new building in December.

The Hall has undergone a multi-million pound rebuild over the last three years and reopened with a sell-out premiere of Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical in October. It is currently closed through November while the finishing touches are put to the venue and will reopen fully in December for the start of its Christmas Show, Cinderella.

The third round of the Culture Recovery Fund will support organisations from all corners of the sector as they deal with ongoing reopening challenges, ensuring they can thrive in better times ahead.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from.

“Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.”

Hall for Cornwall Co-Chair, Chris Pomfret, said: “The Culture Recovery Fund has been a lifeline through the pandemic for so many cultural organisations and we’re very grateful for this award which will help us as we prepare to fully reopen our building.

“Although we staged the hugely successful production of Fisherman’s Friends The Musical just a few weeks ago, we have been closed throughout November to complete and finish all areas of our magnificent theatre.

“This award will help us offset some of our costs while we remain closed in November. We look forward to welcoming audiences back for Cinderella in December, which is the second show after Fisherman's Friends that has been co-produced by our in-house Cornwall Playhouse productions team.”

Truro and Falmouth MP, Cherilyn Mackrory, said: “Hall for Cornwall has undergone an amazing transformation and is a huge boost to Cornwall’s cultural offer at a time when we are bidding for City of Culture 2025 status. This award from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund will see the theatre through November ready for its Christmas show when it will welcomes audiences from across Cornwall for some much-anticipated festive fun.”

Over £1.2 billion has already been awarded from the unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund, supporting around 5000 individual organisations and sites across the country ranging from local museums to West End theatres, grassroots music venues to festivals, and organisations in the cultural and heritage supply-chains.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: “This continued investment from the Government on an unprecedented scale means our theatres, galleries, music venues, museums and arts centres can carry on playing their part in bringing visitors back to our high streets, helping to drive economic growth, boosting community pride and promoting good health. It’s a massive vote of confidence in the role our cultural organisations play in helping us all to lead happier lives”.