Monday October 12th 2020
The Stage Management Company (UK) Ltd receives lifeline grant from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund
Entertainment Technical and Production supplier, The Stage Management Company (UK) Ltd, based in Bradford has been awarded a grant as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.
The Stage Management Company (UK) Ltd is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
The Stage Management Company (UK) Ltd was founded by Peter Hargreaves in 2007 as a way of providing technical and creative services and equipment to the region’s Stage Schools, Amateur Theatre Companies and Venues. Since then it has grown to provide a wide range of Technical Entertainment Services to festivals, tours, theatre, concerts, site specific and live events throughout the UK – whilst still retaining it’s support work, community outreach and close connections with the organisations it was initially founded to support.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”
Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:
“Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”
Peter Hargreaves, Managing Director of The Stage Management Company, said: “We are delighted to be awarded a grant from the DCMS Recovery Fund. As a supplier of support services to the Performing Arts it will enable us continue to provide our services to the customers, venues , arts and community organisations we regularly support through the supply of Lighting, Sound and Technical Production equipment and services. The Arts and Entertainment industry is still in crisis - we are one of the lucky ones, however there are many more well deserving organisations and venues that are still in need of vital support and the fight continues for the future of the industry we love"
