2 April 2021

Wheal Martyn Trust is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. The award will help us to address the financial challenges arising from this latest lockdown and ensure we are ready to welcome our communities and visitors safely back, as well as plan exciting new opportunities and experiences for people to get involved as we emerge from lockdown and beyond.

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Wheal Martyn in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

As Cornwall, St. Austell and the clay area continues to evolve, Wheal Martyn has a crucial role to play in inspiring future generations in the context of this significant industry, helping build a sense of place and providing opportunities for everyone to learn, get creative, develop skills and enhance their wellbeing. This grant will enable us to continue this important work and helps put the museum in a strong position for the future.

  

The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. 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. 

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."

Director of Wheal Martyn, Colin Vallance, said:

“We are thrilled to have received funding from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, so that we can continue to be here for our communities and work to realise the ambitious plans we developed ahead of the pandemic.

"We look forward to welcoming people back through our doors shortly and continuing our work helping to make a positive contribution to people’s lives and the prosperity of St. Austell and the surrounding areas into the future.”

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.”

Culture creates jobs, supports livelihoods, and brings joy to everyone. The UK leads the world in the creative industries and we can all feel pride in that.  Through the Culture Recovery Fund the government is #HereForCulture so it can weather the storm of coronavirus and come back stronger.

And we are #HereForCulture too – you can follow the hashtag on social media.

#HereForCulture is a movement that unites the public, government and cultural organisations in support of our fantastic cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, galleries and heritage.  With more and more culture being curated online, there is no better time to support and enjoy all the new and exciting ways culture is available to us.

The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.