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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Arts Council England on the payment of open access National Lottery Project Grants during the covid-19 outbeak.

Myself and my officials have worked closely with its arm’s-length bodies throughout the COVID-19 crisis to deliver tailored support packages at speed, including the £160m Emergency Funding Package announced by Arts Council England (ACE) in March.

DCMS will continue to support ACE in its hugely important role in supporting and developing England’s arts and culture, including in its upcoming role in the delivery of the £1.57 billion of new funding announced on 5 July, to provide support for key organisations across the cultural, heritage and creative sectors.

On 22 July ACE’s National Lottery Project Grants re-open and further guidance, updated so more individuals and creative practitioners can be supported during COVID-19, can be found on the ACE website.