Some of England’s most famous arts venues have been given a financial lifeline after nearly 1,400 theatres, museums and organisations were told they would receive a share of £257m ($334.50m) from the British government.
The Cavern Club in Liverpool, where The Beatles played some of their first shows, has been given £525,000 ($683,313), Bristol's Old Vic Theatre received £610,466 and London's Young Vic theatre was given £961,455.
It is part of a wider government Culture Recovery Fund worth £1.57 billion to prop up an industry that has been devastated by closures due to Covid-19 and the UK's lockdown.
It is estimated the arts industry is worth more than £10bn a year to the UK economy.
The largest chunk of government grants for the industry so far, the money has gone to venues and organisations that applied for less than £1m. There will be further funds released for those who applied for up to £3m in the near future.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the tranche would protect jobs, help shows return to the stage and create work for freelancers, who make up a large proportion of the industry.
"This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation," Dowden said in a statement.
"It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector's recovery."
He told Sky News that he hoped those struggling in the industry would "hang in" for as long as they could.
Bristol Old Vic's artistic director Tom Morris said the grant would be “transformative”.
“Immediately, it keeps us open and prevents another devastating round of redundancies,” he said.
“Beyond that, it gives us a solid platform from which we can contribute to the economic and social recovery which must follow the pandemic over the next two years."
Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England, said further funding would be announced later in the month.
"Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages," he said.
"This is a difficult time for us all, but this first round of funding from the Culture Recovery Fund will help sustain hundreds of cultural spaces and organisations that are loved and admired by local communities and international audiences."
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Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
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Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
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