BRADFORD Theatres - which includes the King’s Hall and Winter Garden in Ilkley - has been awarded up to £894,423 as part of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future.

Bradford Theatres is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.

Bradford Theatres, which includes the Alhambra Theatre, St George’s Hall, The Studio in the city centre, and King’s Hall and Winter Garden in Ilkley, is run and managed by Bradford Council. The venues collectively offer a regionally significant programme and community use, and are a vitally important part of the national large scale touring circuit, hosting more than 350 performances per year, large and small. The venues serve some of the most densely populated cities in the North of England as well as isolated rural areas, including areas of high deprivation and low cultural engagement.

The grant will mean that Bradford Theatres can continue its education and outreach work, offering local students engagement opportunities. This grant is hugely welcomed as a lifeline for these iconic venues, helping to support and preserve Bradford’s arts and cultural life for the future.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places said: “The announcement today is very good news for our historic and award-winning venues. This investment will mean that our highly skilled and adaptable staff can continue their work to ensure the venues can be enjoyed by many future generations in our district.

“It’s very exciting to know that we will be able to continue to offer opportunities for residents in our district to access our programme and venues. We’re very much looking forward to being able to welcome our loyal audiences back in the future.”

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.”