Saturday 24 October was an exciting date in our diary because we were able to announce our Cultural Recovery Fund (CRF) grant application was successful; and we’re fortunate, and thankful, to have been awarded £2,499,531. But what does this mean?

Since closing our doors to our lovely customers in March, we’ve been working hard to ensure we can welcome you all back as soon as possible. As a social enterprise, we rely on our profits to reinvest into our venues, programme and services.

But Coronavirus halted our commercial activity, meaning we were restricted in our ability to fund community arts programmes, subsidise grassroots performances, and to provide accessible learning and cultural experiences.

BH Live is one of 35 major cultural organisations receiving the first grants between £1 and £3 million through the Culture Recovery Fund – with £75 million of investment announced Saturday 24 October 2020. This follows £334 million awarded earlier in the month to nearly 2,000 organisations, also from the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme, being administered by Arts Council England.

Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.

Receiving this great news, and much needed help means we’re better able to face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and secure the future of live events, protect the provision of theatre, live performance and cultural events for all in communities across Dorset, Hampshire and London. It will also be used to safeguard highly skilled jobs in the live performance sector that would otherwise be lost.

Furthermore, in collaboration with resident & visiting companies, BH Live is planning to deliver a series of community events and socially distanced performances to encourage audiences back into its venues as soon as they can viably reopen.

#HereForCulture

Written by Tia Thorp