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<p>The Government’s unprecedented £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund has now surpassed
the £1 billion milestone.</p><p>Over £500 million in recovery grants have been made
to over 3000 arts, culture and heritage organisations in England helping to support
75,000 jobs. This is in addition to over £160m in repayable finance; almost £100m
in capital grants; £188m in support for the Devolved Administrations and £100m in
direct support to the national cultural institutions. This funding is supporting the
arts and culture sector to survive the pandemic and continue operating.</p><p>£400
million was held back as a contingency, and is being used for a second round of grants
and repayable finance funding, to support cultural organisations facing financial
distress as a result of closure, as well as helping them transition back to fuller
opening during 2021. It will support organisations to transition from the challenging
months of lockdowns and social distancing to welcoming audiences and visitors back
to the country’s theatres, museums, cinemas, music venues and heritage sites.</p><p>This
investment is part of a wider package of help from the UK Government. The Chancellor
Rishi Sunak has provided unprecedented financial assistance which many cultural organisations
have taken advantage of.</p><p>On 5 November, the Chancellor announced that the Coronavirus
Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will be extended until April 2021. Businesses can continue
to apply for government-backed loans, and self-employed individuals can access the
Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS), which has also been extended until April
2021.The CJRS and SEISS support has been made more generous, with individuals able
to receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked/average trading profits
respectively.</p><p>Within the current national restrictions, performing arts venues
can continue to operate under Stages 1 and 2 of the performing arts roadmap. This
means that performing arts professionals including technicians may continue to rehearse
and train, and perform for broadcast and recording purposes.</p><p> </p>
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