Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the announcement entitled, £1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions, published on 5 July 2020, whether local authorities will be able to bid for that funding to help support the continued viability of municipal theatres; and if will make a statement.

On 5 July, DCMS announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of sectors, including performing arts and theatres, museums and galleries, heritage sites, live music venues and independent cinema.

We want this package to support organisations across the cultural, heritage and creative sectors, although there will be robust criteria about which individual organisations receive support. We are working closely with the DCMS ALBs to develop guidance indicating who can apply for the different elements of this funding, and we will publish detailed guidance as soon as possible in July.