NK Theatre Arts lifeline grant from £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund

Stockport based NK Theatre Arts has been awarded just over £80,000 of funding as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.

NK is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.

NK Theatre Arts works with children, young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities and from any status or culture, who maximise their full potential through the exploration of performing arts.  Through weekly workshops in Musical Theatre, Dance and Drama the company work with hundreds of members of the community each year as well as providing theatre performances which range from full scale musicals and comedy nights, to adult cabaret shows and even Shakespeare plays.  The Forum Theatre is home to many other societies, dance schools, tribute bands and schools who ensure the theatre is a thriving venue for the community with a wide range of artistic provision accessible to all.  The theatre has been closed since the end of March with the vast majority of performances now rescheduled to 2021.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

“This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery. 

“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”

Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:

“Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”

Darren Stannage, Company Manager from NK said.

The Forum Theatre is not just home to NK Theatre Arts but it is also home to dozens of organisations who work tirelessly to produce high quality Artistic performances enjoyed by tens of thousands of people throughout Stockport every year.  Before the pandemic hit, it was set to be a record year for visitors to the Forum and everyone was devastated when we had to close the theatre and postpone some brilliant productions.  Although our members have returned for workshops, our theatre remains closed for events right now but this support should allow us to be in a strong position to start to slowly re-open the theatre as soon as it is safe to do so.  Given the ever changing restrictions we are facing relating to social distancing, it is hard to put a time frame on such events and what the new “normal” will look like for theatre, but this funding will support the core costs of our organisation through to spring next year and we are delighted that the hard work of the staff and volunteers of NK Theatre Arts and importantly, it’s value to the community of Stockport, has been acknowledged and supported.