£364k boost for arts in Bedford as part of Government's Culture Recovery Fund

Arts in Bedford has received a boost of £364,430 today (April 2) as part of a vital financial boost from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The following grants have been announced:

> Bedford Creative Arts - £35,727

> Bedford Players Trust - £52,745

> Burrow Venues - £43,245

> Esquires Ehantertainments Ltd - £50,632

> The Pad Presents Ltd - £60,661

> Video Design Ltd - £121,420

Bedford Creative Arts is a contemporary arts charity that commissions art that directly engages the public through collaboration with artists.

Its work is focused outside the gallery in social spaces, in schools in Bedford and Bedfordshire and with the management of five artist studios. Funding will support programming for four new commissions, software to coordinate projects remotely, a creative lab to support a VR and community curated exhibition and a primary school residency of workshops.

Elaine Midgley, Director at Bedford Creative Arts, said: "Bedford Creative Arts believes that all communities should have ‘an outrageous sense of entitlement to the arts’ and that has never been more true than during the pandemic.

"We have been delighted by the demand for our activities in Bedfordshire but frustrated by the challenges Covid-19 has presented for us to surmount.

"This investment will allow us to prepare for one of our busiest years yet and ensure that we can respond to and support our beneficiaries and partners."

Richard Sobey, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Bedford Creative Arts, added: "This investment in our future is invaluable. It makes a huge difference to what we can achieve with our participants, communities and audiences. Crucially, it provides renewed vigour for our artists and staff team after a year of delivering an extensive programme during pandemic restrictions.

"This grant means Bedford Creative Arts can continue to deliver high quality experiences, enabling us to prepare for a new normal - including launching one of our most ambitious projects, Airship Dreams: Escaping Gravity, in July 2021".

The cash injection represents a share of more than £400 million in grants and loans for more than 2,700 cultural and creative organisations across the country as part of a vital financial boost from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

This includes more than £300 million, which has been awarded in grants through Arts Council England, Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.

And £81 million, which has been offered by DCMS in tailor-made loans for cultural landmarks. For all enquiries about these loans, please contact DCMS directly.

You can view the full list of awards here.