Grand Theatre Statement

Blackpool Grand Theatre is immensely grateful to learn that its application for Arts Council England: Emergency Response Funds has been successful.

The Grand is one of 196 National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) that have benefitted from the fund, which was launched in April to help the sector overcome the challenges of forced closure, due to Covid-19, until September 2020. The Theatre will receive £193,000 to cover costs incurred because of the pandemic and to continue to engage with audiences, artists and staff during lockdown and in preparation for re-opening. Arts Council England has used its own resources to create this fund, which is separate from and unrelated to the recent announcement of £1.57bn support package announced this week.

Ruth Eastwood, Chief Executive of Blackpool Grand Theatre said “It is a great relief to have received this funding. It will help us, in the short-term, to cover some of the losses that the charity has incurred since it closed the theatre’s doors on 17 March 2020 and begin to plan for reopening.  Obviously, with social distancing still in place and theatres not yet allowed to operate ‘normally’, many things remain uncertain about both the economic viability and the safety of theatres, like The Grand, returning to working the way things were.  However, we are confident that, whilst the world may look very different when this difficult times come to an end, the Grand Theatre will bounce back, stronger and with even more to offer our local and regional communities”.

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Blackpool Grand Theatre has released the following statement after the news that the Government support package for the arts sector. 

‘We are delighted and relieved to hear news of the Government’s support package and investment in the arts and culture sector during this crucial time. Thanks, must go to DCMS, HM Treasury and the incredible number of people in the creative sector who have worked arm-in-arm to demonstrate the key role the arts play in our wellbeing and social lives.

‘We appreciate the incredible number of demands on the UK Government due to the coronavirus crisis, we are pleased that they recognised the incredible local and national benefits theatres like Blackpool Grand and others provide, and that support in this time is essential to our future as ticket sales (93%) and other income sources have disappeared during this time.

‘This package will assist Blackpool Grand and UK Culture venues and organisations like ours survive these immediate impacts, this support will also help us prepare to welcome back our incredible audiences, artists, creatives, freelancers, and participants as soon as safely possible.

‘Every employee is missing being in the venue, welcoming old friends and new. Once guidance has been given on Theatre’s opening, we assure you we will be there as soon as we can.

‘We look forward to receiving the details of the support package when we will see in full how this will help the survival of the creative sector.

‘The curtain will rise again…’

Ruth Eastwood, Blackpool Grand Theatre Chief Executive Officer

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