More theatres have been saved from the brink of collapse thanks to the Government's Cultural Recovery Fund. 

The Civic Arts Centre and Theatre in Hyndburn, and the Muni Theatre in Colne have been awarded thousands of pounds in grants to help secure jobs and keep the future of the arts alive. 

Along with other grants that Hyndburn Arts have applied for recently from The National Lottery, WEA European Funding and Loan Shark Community Fund, the most recent funding from the Government has enabled the Civic to retain all their staff.

With no income coming in at all due to the coronavirus, all jobs at the Civic were put at risk, and even more so with the threat of furlough ending.

Fortunately, thanks to the extra cash, jobs are secure for the foreseeable future and planning can start in earnest for 2021.

Creative director at the Civic, Gayle Knight, said: “It will mean changes to the way we work for some time as our doors won’t be open for events or theatre performances for a while, but we are planning something fun for Hallowe’en and we will be visiting schools at Christmas rather than having them come to us.

“The grant funding means we will be focused on ‘projects’ for the next six months and we’ll be making announcements about them in the coming weeks.

"We’ve now got the security to start planning and preparing for a new way of working.

"It’s been very stressful for most of the year but it’s now turned around and we can comfortably say that these next few months will be exciting as plan for new ways of creative working.

“Thank you to everyone who has sent us messages of support over these times, it’s been good to know that the community has been on our side throughout.”

The Muni Theatre in Colne has announced it will reopen on December 26 with an alternative to the annual pantomime, plus a reconfigured programme for Spring, including rescheduled events from 2020 and including any Government restrictions that still remain.

Chief Executive of Pendle Leisure Trust, Alison Goode, said: “This is fantastic news.

"We are absolutely delighted to have secured this funding which will help us to reopen this much-loved venue that provides year-round entertainment for the people of Pendle and beyond.

“Since closing the theatre at the end of March, we have been busy rescheduling all the shows planned for this year.

"Luckily, we have not had to cancel any – but we do now have a jam-packed programme for next year.

“This will start on Boxing Day with A Christmas Cracker – an alternative to our usual pantomime, but still packed with music, laughter, magic and popular panto routines, which I’m sure all the family will enjoy.”

Pendle Leisure Trust, and Hyndburn Arts are just two of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country to receive this much-needed investment being administered by Arts Council England.

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."

Chair of Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, added: “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.”