Cultural Recovery Fund support for Cheshire West and Chester Cultural Services from Arts Council England

Cheshire West and Chester Council has been awarded a Cultural Recovery Fund grant of £60,434 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery, to remodel some of its cultural programmes to find new ways of delivering them that ensure sustainability.

The Council’s Cultural Services play a vital role in empowering its communities with local decision making; supports mental health and wellbeing, reduces social isolation. Providing a sense of connection and reasons to come together in open and welcoming spaces for audiences and volunteers - whether they are virtual or Covid-secure events. 

As with many other arts organisations the work of the Council’s Cultural Services has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Many of the Council’s services are normally supported by income from ticket sales, school visits and venue hire. Without this income they are at risk of not continuing.  

The award will enable Cultural Services to implement new, sustainable ways of working that continue to deliver important arts and heritage projects and interventions throughout the borough. These include Cheshire Rural Touring Arts, West Cheshire Museums Learning Offer, St. Mary’s Creative Space in Chester and Cine Window Winsford.    

Welcoming the award, Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader, Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded these funds. The Council’s Cultural Services plays an important part in bringing communities together and improving the health and well-being of residents, especially those in isolated areas. Active involvement with Culture and heritage can greatly help, even more so during these uncertain times with the effects and challenges of the pandemic.” 

Distributed by Arts Council England on behalf of the DCMS the award of £60,434 will help to create a sustainable programme including: 

• Establishing a digital platform for West Cheshire Museums as part of the learning offer for schools and communities. 
• Supporting Cheshire Rural Touring Arts to work with its network of volunteer promoters to restart activity and pilot sustainable models of programming, including digital and covid-secure performances.  
• Supporting St. Mary’s Creative Space to continue to engage with its communities, audiences and performers. 
• Continue Cine Window Winsford, an artist-film and media project in Winsford town centre, providing high quality cultural engagement and ownership of the co-created showcase.

Pictured - Artist Cath Campbell and Cllr Louise Gittins.