Trafalgar Entertainment welcomes the news that Britain’s globally renowned arts, culture and heritage industries will receive a £1.57 billion rescue package to help weather the impact of COVID-19. The government announced the news on Sunday 5 July and it should come as a huge relief for the thousands of people working in the sector following weeks of campaigning and lobbying.

This commitment, the largest ever one-off investment in UK culture, will hopefully be good news for the theatre industry and provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic.

Thousands of organisations across a range of sectors including the performing arts and theatres, heritage, historic palaces, museums, galleries, live music and independent cinema will be able to access emergency grants and loans. The investment will help them stay afloat while their doors are closed. Funding to restart paused projects will also help support employment, including freelancers working in these sectors.

Many of Britain’s cultural and heritage institutions have already received unprecedented financial assistance to see them through the pandemic including loans, business rate holidays and participation in the coronavirus job retention scheme. More than 350,000 people in the recreation and leisure sector have been furloughed since the pandemic began.