The grant, to help organisations face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, was announced by the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden yesterday who described the cash investment as a vital boost for 'cultural beacons' across the country.

Venues and organisations in Burnley benefiting from the funding includes Burnley Youth Theatre, Burnley Mechanics and Towneley Hall. They are among the 1,385 cultural and creative organisations in the UK to receive the urgently needed support.

The funding, which is the biggest tranche of money awarded yet from the Government’s £1.57 billion

Burnley Youth Theatre has received a grant from the government's Culture Recovery Fund.

Culture Recovery Fund, includes £257million of investment as part of the 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 next few weeks.

The borough has a rich tapestry of cultural organisations from theatres and music venues through to

galleries and museums, with Burnley Youth Theatre being the first purpose-built youth theatre in the UK

Burnley Mechanics Theatre is among the organisations in the town to receive a lifeline grant from the government's Culture Recovery Fund.

when it opened in 2005.

This funding will enable the organisations to get through the current period as well as making any adaptations needed to venues to get covid-secure so that visitors can return.

The organisations which have secured funding in this tranche are: Burnley Youth Theatre (£59,448),

Burnley Leisure (including the Mechanics) (£336,597), Burnley Borough Council (incluiding Towneley Hall) (£116,476), Mid Pennine Arts (£70,205) and Sanctuary (Jobe Entertainment) (£69,279).

Historic Towneley Hall is to receive a cash lifeline from the government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

This funding also comes on top of the £10,000 awarded to Reel Cinema in Burnley previously, which is to be used for health and safety equipment.

Burnley’s MP Antony Higginbotham, said: “Burnley’s cultural strength comes from the sheer variety of organisations we have; from Towneley Hall and Burnley Mechanics, through to the Youth Theatre and Sanctuary.

"That variety has been essential in bringing people from around the country to the borough and supporting jobs and I want to make sure that when we get through this difficult period, we can go back to doing that.

"This funding boost from the government will ensure that is the case and I’m pleased to have been

able to lend my support to many of the applications that were put in by our hard-working local

organisations.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the funding was for organisations that form the 'soul of our nation' adding: "It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.

“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."

Describing the funding as 'life changing' chairman of the 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.”

Burnley receives lifeline grant from government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund