We are delighted to confirm that we have received a grant of £125,000 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help us recover, reopen and welcome audiences, following our £10 million Mercury Rising refurbishment project.
More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country, including the Mercury, in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.
The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the summer and continue to support staff and plans for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding is a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.
Due to the pandemic, theatres have experienced increases in Covid-19 related costs and seen a shortfall in income from both box offices and fundraising potential. The Mercury is a registered charity and we rely on funding and ticket income to carry out our work on stage and within the community. With buildings closed to fundraising events and some private trusts and foundation funding being placed on hold or diverted, the opportunities to apply for assistance from external dedicated funding sources has been greatly reduced. Due to the pandemic, in the last year the Mercury has lost £3 million in income and as the building remains closed for the next quarter, the theatre has no means to generate income through ticket sales.
In the Mercury’s case, the effects of the pandemic directly extended the completion date of our extensive work, to transform the theatre into a fully accessible, environmentally sustainable and vibrant Covid-safe environment following 18 months of construction work.
This completion and reopening of the Mercury this summer will provide job security for current staff (who have been retained throughout the pandemic) and provide further employment opportunities in Colchester, as we welcome returning audiences and those from further afield as a key destination for cultural tourists.
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.”
Steve Mannix, Mercury Executive Director, said of the award:
“Having come so far in such a challenging period we are incredibly grateful that this grant will help us make it through this first quarter of the financial year while we must remain closed. We are now in the very final stages of fully completing this vital transformation to this wonderful theatre, and are incredibly excited to be planning our reopening this summer. We are beyond thrilled that we are so close to welcoming our audiences and returning to making a vital contribution to the local economy of Colchester.
We are extremely thankful to DCMS and Arts Council England that this funding will enable us to prepare for a Covid-safe reopening as soon as restrictions allow. We look forward to working in partnership with Colchester Borough Council, other local arts and heritage organisations and the local business community to help the town’s economy recover from the devastating impact of the pandemic.
The public have been incredibly generous in their support of our fundraising efforts throughout our Mercury Rising campaign, for which we truly thank them. We continue to value this wonderful support and will need our local community behind us more than ever as we open our doors and provide a true Mercury welcome!”
The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.
Newer Blog Post Older Blog Post Back to Blog
