By KLTV Newsdesk
Holmfirth Civic Hall Community Trust has been awarded £25,000 of National Lottery funding from the Arts Council England’s Emergency Response Fund.
The money is to be used to cover the ongoing running costs of the Hall through the closure period enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as supporting with costs associated with the gradual reopening of the Hall as easing commences.
The outbreak of the virus and the consequent shutdown of businesses as of 23rd March 2020 has left the arts, cultural and entertainment sector facing a period of uncertainty.
In response, Arts Council England are providing £160m of Emergency Response Funds, via Government and National Lottery support, to help those individuals and organisations most affected survive the summer months.
These grants are being awarded as part of a broader strategy to preserve the cultural sector, helping artists and organisations to survive the immediate cash flow challenges, to continue producing work where possible, and to thrive again.
Judith Patrick, Holmfirth Civic Hall Chairman, said: “The grant will provide much-needed funds to help us survive the closure period, but more importantly to ensure the Hall can sustain itself until we are able to resume something like normal activity.
“We anticipate it may be some time before we can welcome back visitors in the number’s pre-lockdown and as a small community venue, run by a charity the future of the Hall is in jeopardy.”
Judith noted that the Hall has received little or no income throughout the closure period and is only now starting to receive any with the very few people able to use the Hall.
She added: “We want to be in a position to continue our work on securing the long term future of the Hall now that lockdown measures are being lifted, but with costs being incurred throughout the period we were closed as well as now we’re opening up but with limited activities able to return, funds such as this are vital to helping us in see out this difficult time.”
Holmfirth Civic Hall is an impressive building lying in the heart of the Last of the Summer Wine countryside.
The building itself is used for a wide variety of activities including concerts and theatre performances, arts and music festivals and competitions – as well as a range of sport and fitness classes for all ages.
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: “The Arts Council has never awarded so many grants, in such a short space of time, to so many creative people.
“None of this would have been possible without National Lottery players – it’s thanks to them that our artists, arts organisations, museums and libraries are able to continue to benefit the lives of communities across England.”