Local culture and heritage companies urged to find out if they are eligible for Welsh Government support

Wrexham-based organisations in the culture and heritage sector can find out if they are eligible to apply for financial support from a new multimillion pound scheme.

Local Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths is encouraging relevant organisations to apply for a share of the Welsh Government’s £53 million Cultural Recovery Fund.

The aim of the fund is to help support and sustain Wales’ cultural industry in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The funding will be delivered via three main pathways. A new £18.5m fund intends to provide essential support to music venues, heritage sites, museums, archives, libraries, events and their technical support suppliers, and independent cinemas who have all experienced a dramatic loss of revenue due to the pandemic.

An eligibility checker is available online and organisations will be able to make applications from 14 September. The closing date for applications is 30 September.

A separate element of the Cultural Recovery Fund, worth £27.5m, is being delivered through the Arts Council of Wales to support theatres and galleries.

This fund was launched 17 August with details available on the Arts Council’s website.

Finally, £7m of funding will support individual freelancers in these sectors. The Welsh Government is expected to provide further details in the near future.

Wrexham’s MS Lesley Griffiths said: “Our cultural industry is critical to our way of life but it has suffered drastically during the pandemic.”

“This vital Welsh Government funding will help safeguard its survival, ensuring organisations and individuals overcome the crisis.”

“With the eligibility checker now available online, I encourage all local companies and organisations who may be entitled to support to check and prepare ahead of the full application process opening next week.”