Blackpool News / Business Tourism / Culture / Theatres & Shows Winter Gardens Funding 9 October 2020 by Visit Blackpool Winter Gardens Blackpool receives lifeline grant from government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund Almost 450 heritage organisations in England, including Winter Gardens Blackpool have been awarded cash from the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage Grants of up to £1 million will deliver a lifeline for the heritage sector in England with further support to follow and larger grants for capital projects awarded through the Heritage Stimulus Fund First major tranche of funding from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund Winter Gardens Blackpool is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a lifesaving financial boost from the government thanks to the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. 445 organisations will share £103 million, including Winter Gardens Blackpool to help restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on cherished heritage sites, keeping venues open and supporting those working in the sector. As part of the £103 million funding package, the Winter Gardens Blackpool is set to receive up to £846k which will be used to protect and preserve the venue during these challenging times and to contribute towards the essential running costs whilst restrictions on mass gatherings remain in place. This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund - funded by Government and administered at arm’s length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Both funds are part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund which is designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans. 433 organisations will receive a share of £67 million from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage to help with costs for operating, reopening and recovery. This includes famous heritage sites across the country, from Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire to the Winter Gardens Blackpool, Blyth Tall Ship to the Severn Valley Railway, the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincolnshire to the Piecehall in Halifax. The funds will save sites that are a source of pride for communities across the country. 12 organisations, including English Heritage, Landmark Trust, Historic Royal Palaces and the Canal and River Trust, will receive £34 million from the Heritage Stimulus Fund to restart construction and maintenance on cherished heritage sites to preserve visitor attractions and protect livelihoods for some of the most vulnerable heritage specialists and contractors in the sector. The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has also been awarded a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund through Historic England. The AHF will use the funding to support charities and social enterprises occupying historic buildings to develop new business plans and strategies for organisations affected by the pandemic. Michael Williams, Blackpool Entertainment Company Managing Director said: “The Winter Gardens has been pivotal to the development of Blackpool, providing a host of entertainment and cultural events that have come to define the town’s heritage offer. We are most grateful for the DCMS funding as it allows us to continue this tradition through these very challenging times. Since the outbreak of Coronavirus in March, the Winter Gardens Blackpool closed its doors in line with Government instructions but has only recently reopened with a limited programme of events in line with social distancing. The support of the DCMS Culture Recovery Fund does ensure that we are able to continue planning for the future to ensure that we are in a position to reopen fully once restrictions are lifted. We recognise that a visit to the Winter Gardens Blackpool does make a difference to our visitors and by working with key partners including Blackpool Council, we are able deliver a diverse range of shows and events designed to create memorable experiences.“ Opened in 1878 the Winter Gardens Blackpool is an integral part of the local and regional economy. Pre-pandemic hosting over 500 events each year across its 12 unique venues, welcoming over 1.3 million guests from over 60 different nations contributing well in excess of £60 million for the local economy. Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “We are pleased and relieved that the cultural and economic significance of venues like the Winter Gardens has been recognised. The importance of the Winter Gardens to Blackpool’s town centre and wider resort regeneration cannot be under-estimated and this grant aid gives us a platform on which to build our recovery plans.”