THE Civic, Stourport has received a slice of the government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help venues recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

The venue has been handed £61,285 which will help The Civic survive the loss in income it has suffered since the lockdown.

John Caldwell, Civic, Stourport trustee, said: "We are very pleased to have been considered both important enough and sufficiently viable for the Arts Council and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to support us through the Cultural Recovery Grant Scheme.

"This funding will be used to keep the lights burning brightly so that when you, our community, are ready to come back to our fantastic programme of shows, activities, and community events we will be here for you.

"We have already restarted our programming with professional events, and we can't wait for our local community productions to return.

The Civic is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support from the fund. £257 million of investment has been announced today (Monday) as part of the very first round of 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.

Kidderminster Town Council has also been awarded £130,903 in the first round of Culture Recovery Fund grants.

Great Witley Church announced last week it is due to receive £37,500 from the fund, and the Severn Valley Railway will receive £906,000.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation.

"It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.

“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”

District MP Mark Garnier tweeted: "Delighted to hear that Wyre Forest is in the first round of Culture Recovery Fund Grants. £192k for Stourport’s The Civic and for Kidderminster Town Council."