Amberley Museum awarded £80,000 grant

Amberley Museum 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.

Valerie Mills, Director of Amberley Museum said, “We are delighted to have received this award of £80,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund. This funding will play an essential part in Amberley’s ability to survive the pandemic, particularly through the next few months in very uncertain times. Although we re-opened successfully just over two months ago, we are operating on limited numbers and are unable to run our usual events, so this funding will enable us to plan confidently for the future and continue to welcome our many volunteers, members, supporters and visitors.” 

Amberley Museum normally welcomes 50,000 visitors every year to its 36-acre site in the South Downs National Park in what used to be a thriving chalk pits and lime works. Having re-opened to visitors on the 29th July with all the necessary Covid-19 adjustments, this grant will help the Museum through the winter months by contributing towards essential salaries and overheads and bolster reserves, which were severely depleted when it had to close in March.

Oliver Dowden, Culture Secretary 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.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England 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.”

For further details on the museum, visit its website.

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