Burnley Youth Theatre and Burnley Leisure to benefit from grants boost

The two organisations were among 42 recipients from across Lancashire to benefit from the latest round of awards from the Government s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

Burnley Leisure was granted £80,242, while Burnley Youth Theatre was given £29,390.

Sir Nicholas Serota, chairman Arts Council England, said: “Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic.

"These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.

"We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”

Burnley Youth Theatre works with children, young people and families in the town and the surrounding areas.

The funding will allow the small arts organisation and charity to offer a varied programme of cultural activity both face to face and online between April and June.

They will offer Youth Theatre workshops and productions for ages 0 to 18, projects with local schools and community groups and Professional Theatre productions.

The funding will also give security to the jobs of their small staff team as well as give paid opportunities to freelance artists from Lancashire and the North-West.

Burnley Youth Theatre artistic director and chief executive Karen Metcalfe, said: “This grant will support us to reopen our building and begin face to face activity again, building on the great work we have been delivering online for the past 12 months.

"It gives us the opportunity to try new things - experimenting with using our outdoor spaces and delivering projects in alternative ways.

"The grant gives us some real security in an unpredictable period and we are very grateful to receive it."

Anthony Preston, chair of trustees at Burnley Youth Theatre, said: “We are delighted with this additional financial support from the Culture Recovery Fund.

"It is especially welcomed in helping us to relaunch our activities and secure the future of the organisation in these most challenging of times.

"The grant recognises the important contribution we make to the cultural life, wellbeing and prosperity of Burnley and its young people.”