Lincolnshire Agricultural Society to receive grant from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund 02 Apr

• Lincolnshire Agricultural Society among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund
• This award will enable the Lincolnshire Showground to remain operational and reopen for events once allowed to do so

Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, owner of the Lincolnshire Showground, has received a grant from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help face the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and ensure they are able to reopen as a covid-secure venue.

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country, including the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today. The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society will receive £332,211 to help cover operating costs of the Showground, to support its charitable work and continue to deliver cultural events for the people of Lincolnshire and beyond.

CEO of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, Jayne Southall said:

“We are enormously grateful and excited to receive this award from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. This grant will allow us to keep the Showground operational and build the confidence of our event organisers and exhibitors. With 270 acres of outdoor space and large buildings we are now better placed to welcome back all the many charity, community and business groups that use the Showground to entertain, educate or showcase to our thousands of visitors. Helping them operate their cultural events in a covid-secure way.

After an extremely challenging twelve months, it also means we will be able to rebuild our reserves and continue to fulfil our own charitable objectives through our education work and events.”

Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:

“Our record-breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced.

Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said:

“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.

We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”

The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.

Further information

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk

Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies administering the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19

At the Budget, the Chancellor announced the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund would be boosted with a further £300 million investment. Details of this third round of funding will be announced soon.