BCLM’s application to the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) has been successful and a grant of £2.56m has been awarded to further help the Museum face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
This financial support, administered by Arts Council England (ACE), will help to safeguard the Museum during these most challenging of times. Since reopening in August, following five months of closure due to Covid-19 restrictions, we’ve been operating with strictly capped visitor attendance – resulting in audiences at less than half of the level seen in previous years. A lack of demand from educational groups due to Covid has also contributed to significantly lower attendance – particularly during term time week days.
As an independent charity which receives 94 per cent of its income from visitors, the temporary closure and reduced visitor numbers have had a serious impact on the Museum’s short and medium-term financial position. Therefore, support from the Culture Recovery Fund will play a vital role in helping us to remain operational and able to serve our community; and while this is obviously fantastic news, we will still need to evolve to meet the challenges ahead.
Watch a short video statement from Andrew below, or you can directly link to the video on our YouTube Channel here:
Commenting on the award, Andrew said, “We’re incredibly grateful for the support given to the Museum, ultimately by the people of the UK, as a result of our successful application to the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Prior to the pandemic, BCLM was justly proud of its contribution as an independent heritage business to the region’s identity and economy. These funds will help us to adapt to survive in the short term, so that we can thrive and grow with our community in the long term.
“Prior to COVID-19 this Museum was enormously successful. This critical funding provides the means to be successful once more. As Chair of the Association of Independent Museums, I also recognise and welcome the positive impact of the Culture Recovery Fund for hundreds of museums across England and the value attached to them by millions of visitors.”
Lowell Williams, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said, “This decision is a massive vote of confidence in the Museum. It reflects our value to people and the strength and optimism of the organisation.”
The full public press release can also viewed on our website’s News Page here.
Other Midlands organisations including Ironbridge Museums, Birmingham Hippodrome, THSH, and Birmingham Museums Trust have been awarded grants from the Culture Recovery Fund. Given the support for the region’s cultural sector, it’s unsurprising that there’s a great deal of local media interest. Therefore, it’s likely that the Museum will feature online and in local TV news in the coming days, so please keep a look out. We’ll also post updates on this to the intranet.
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