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<p>The government recognises the significant cultural and economic value of cinemas,
and has supported them through both sector-specific and economy-wide measures.</p><p>More
than 200 independent cinemas have so far received funding of £16 million in the first
round of the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. This funding is being administered
by the BFI on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, as part
of the biggest ever single investment in this country’s cultural sectors. Grants have
been awarded to cinema sites in every corner of the country, with cinemas outside
London benefitting from 78% of funding to date. Further to this, we announced in December
that cinemas will be able to apply for a share of an additional £14 million in grants
as part of the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund. This second round closed
on 1 February, and will provide support for cinemas into the next financial year.
Cinemas have also been eligible to apply to the second round of Arts Council England’s
Repayable Finance scheme, with a total of £100 million available.</p><p>Recognising
that cinemas need content, during this crisis the Government’s Film and TV Production
Restart Scheme has helped keep the cameras rolling at the other end of the screen
supply chain. The £500 million scheme, which opened for applications in October 2020,
has assured over 100 productions that they will be supported if future losses are
incurred due to Covid-19 and provided the confidence they need to restart filming.</p><p>In
addition, most cinemas have been and are continuing to benefit from economy-wide measures
including the VAT cut on tickets and concessions, a business rates holiday, access
to Bounce Back Loans, the extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and Local Restrictions
Support Grants.</p><p>Together these measures are providing a comprehensive package
of support to the cinema industry to support it through the pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>
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