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Arts organisations are celebrating after the government announced a "world-beating" investment to save the industry.
The £1.57bn rescue package will support the future of the UK's museums, music venues, cinemas and theatres, after being forced to close their doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The funding will be made up of emergency grants and loans to help these organisations weather the financial black hole created by not being able to operate since March.
Mark Davyd, CEO of the Music Venue Trust and co-owner of the Tunbridge Wells Forum, has spent the past three months campaigning to secure support for live music venues, which looked to be at risk of permanent closure.
The charity asked venues, artists and live music fans to get involved in their #SaveOurVenues campaign, putting pressure on government to recognise and support the future of the arts in the wake of the pandemic.
Reacting to the news of the government announcement, he said: "We're delighted by it, it is exactly the first step of the plan to recovery for music venues that we asked for, a clear package of financial support because we know they cannot open at the moment."
But Mr Davyd also said there would still need to be further plans put in place in order for live music to fully recover from the impact of the pandemic.
He said: "We do need a VAT cut in order for the sector to be able to recover itself, and then we will need further action from Public Health England on an actual plan that gets every venue reopened.
"But I don't think we should detract from it, this is a major intervention into culture - it would have been great if it was slightly earlier of course, but we've got there in the end."
Whilst the funding will go to help ailing venues work through mounting bills and zero revenue, Mr Davyd said work will need to be done to return live music to its original form.
He said: "No amount of drive-ins or socially-distanced areas or anything like that is going to bring back what everybody in this country loves, which is a raw live music experience."
Andre Dack, manager of the Ramsgate Music Hall, felt relieved after first hearing the announcement.
He said: "There’s no other way of describing it. We still await further details, but the initial reaction was sheer relief.
"Today, I’ve awoken with optimism, for the first time in a long while.
"There is no question that the Ramsgate Music Hall will close without funding - probably by autumn, assuming we are not able to open by then.
"This is likely to be the case for at least 50% of grassroots venues."
He added: "And the problem doesn’t end there - though grassroots venues have their own unique challenges, our outgoings are minuscule in comparison to the likes of Royal Albert Hall.
"We are at huge risk, but the colossal venues and theatres are also in danger. You can’t imagine a world where the Royal Opera House closes, can you?"
Although Mr Dack is optimistic about the funding announcement, he is waiting for further information before declaring the UK's live music scene has been saved.
The venue manager said: "The devil is almost always in the detail, after all. In theory, this is certainly enough money to save each venue in the UK.
"We know already that the majority of money is made up of grants, rather than loans, which is a very assuring start.
"Still, we have to wait and see."
"You can’t imagine a world where the Royal Opera House closes, can you?"
The money has been described as the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture.
One theatre in Canterbury has also thanked the government for the funding lifeline.
Deborah Shaw, chief executive of the Marlowe Theatre, said: "We are hugely delighted and mightily relieved by the announcement last night of £1.57 billion in emergency grants and loans for theatres, museums, galleries and heritage sites by the government, supporting cultural organisations through to April 2021.
"Our thanks to the DCMS and the Treasury for recognising the importance of the UK’s cultural sector and making this unprecedented investment, and also to everyone who has lobbied so hard and put the case so eloquently about the vital part the arts play in our lives and the economic imperatives in supporting it.
"We look forward to hearing full details of the scheme over the next few weeks."
She added: "The existential threat we’ve been living with – that the whole national theatre infrastructure might be destroyed in this crisis – has been lifted.
"We can now get on with our plans for a staged reopening of The Marlowe and building to a successful future."
Last month the venue appealed to the government for financial aid, as it reported a 96% loss in takings as a result of being closed throughout lockdown.
The cash will also help restart projects which had to pause at the start of the pandemic, in addition to supporting employment in the sector.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions at our world-class galleries to gigs performed in local basement venues, the UK’s cultural industry is the beating heart of this country.
"This money will help safeguard the sector for future generations, ensuring arts groups and venues across the UK can stay afloat and support their staff whilst their doors remain closed and curtains remain down."
