Coronavirus: Arts Council emergency fund awards 10,000 grants

Nearly 10,000 individuals and organisations have so far received emergency funding from Arts Council England to help survive the coronavirus crisis, it has been confirmed.

A total of £64.8 million has been distributed by ACE, in 9,666 different grants, as part of its response package announced in March.

The £160 million bailout comprises National Lottery money as well as refocused grant funding and Arts Council reserves, with about £90 million still to be allocated, which has been earmarked for national portfolio organisations.

Across England, nearly 7,500 individuals and 2,182 independent organisations have received emergency funding to help alleviate the immediate pressures in the first few months of the pandemic.

ACE chief executive Darren Henley said the funding body had never awarded so many grants to so many in such a short period of time.

Chair Nicholas Serota added: "This urgent financial support has provided a lifeline to the many creative individuals and organisations across England that make up our vibrant cultural sector, for whom Covid-19 has dealt a devastating blow."

Funding has been offered to 71% of those who applied for it. However, ACE said success rates were "significantly higher" to D/deaf or disabled, black and minority ethnic individual applicants, at 81% and 77% respectively.

Of the £64.8 million already awarded, ACE said £13.1 million of funding has been offered to black and minority ethnic individuals and black and minority ethnic-led organisations.

Meanwhile, £8.5 million has gone to D/deaf or disabled artists and disabled-led organisations.

The Arts Council said it has now moved into the stabilisation phase of its response to the crisis. The aim of this is to help the arts sector reopen, strengthen organisations and enable individuals to continue to work in the changed environment.

ACE’s efforts in this phase will be focused on "gathering evidence, data and insight from across the sector to inform conversations with DCMS on the support required for different parts of the sector to reopen effectively".

ACE has already laid out its expected response to Covid-19 for the next four years, with recovery plans stretching until March 2024.