Stephen Joseph Theatre and other North Yorkshire arts and culture venues receive share of £400m cash lifeline

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has today announced it has invested £9,110,011 in arts and cultural organisations across North Yorkshire through the second round of its Culture Recovery Fund. distributed by Arts Council England.

Nationally, more than 2,700 cultural organisations have been awarded cash from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre has received a grant of £84,893 to help it recover and reopen.

Ryedale Folk Museum has been awarded £39,950 while Rural Arts North Yorkshire receives £55,000.

North York Moors Historical Railway Trust will receive £578,000, and Castle Howard Estate Ltd has been awarded a loan of £4,540,000.

Twelve cinemas in the Yorkshire region will receive a total £665,543 package, including Malton's Palace cinema which receives £21,490.

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The Stephen Joseph Theatre will use its allocation to support a production in the summer season, which is due to be announced shortly; towards the filming of its productions; and to aid its re-opening from mid-May onwards.

Last year, nearly 89,000 people attended an event at the SJT; it’s estimated that the theatre contributes over £4.5m to the local economy.

Over £800m 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."

Caroline Routh, Executive Director at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, said: “We are enormously grateful to the Government for their support. We’re aiming to have the SJT back up and running in time for what promises to be a busy summer for Scarborough – we want to be there for both visitors to the town and for locals, who have been our constant supporters through this difficult past year.”