Nickie Aiken MP has welcomed the announcement that cultural organisations and heritage sites across the Cities of London & Westminster will receive over £25 million of additional support from the Government to help the recovery from the impact of COVID-19.

Organisations based in the Two Cities including The London Transport Museum, The London Symphony Orchestra and St Martins in the Field Trust as well as several of the West End theatres have received funding.

The funding comes as part of the second round of awards by the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, worth £400 million in grants and loans which is being delivered to over 2,700 organisations across England.

This brings the Conservative Government's total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion across over 5,000 individual cultural and heritage organisations and sites.

Nearly all of the original £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund has now been allocated. The Chancellor announced a further £300 million boost for the Fund at last month’s Budget, taking direct government investment in the sector since the start of the pandemic to almost £2 billion.

The Government is protecting our most treasured arts and cultural institutions – organisations that are irreplaceable parts of our heritage – ensuring they can survive in the short term and thrive in the future.

Commenting, Nickie said:

The past year has had a devastating impact on cultural and heritage organisations in Cities of London & Westminster, so it is fantastic news that over £25 million is being provided to support these valued organisations.

I’m really excited that as we set out on our cautious roadmap to reopening up this sector, we’ll soon be able to enjoy these extraordinary institutions once again, and I’m delighted that the support is being put in place to help them thrive in the future.

Oliver Dowden, Culture Secretary, said:

Our record-breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced.

Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.

You can read a list of organisations across England that have been awarded funding here.