Two valuable heritage sites and three arts venues in the Keighley and Ilkley constituency have been given a crucial lifeline thanks to a major Government scheme. Overall the Cultural Recovery Fund will pump £1.57 billion into helping Britain's cultural sector survive the Covid pandemic.
The Ilkley Toy Museum has been awarded £12,000 and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society has been awarded £231,600. Both successfully applied to the Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage, set up to help the country’s cultural gems survive the coronavirus pandemic.
The Cultural Recovery Fund for the Arts also gave £60,147 to Jam On Top, £119,200 to The Bronte Society and £51,000 to the Thought Bubble Festival.
Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, Robbie Moore, said he was delighted at the award and how the money would protect a vital part of the area’s arts and heritage while protecting local jobs
The CRF is funded by the Government and delivered by arts and heritage experts - the Arts Council for England, the Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund - to support organisations in England across the heritage ecosystem that are local and national treasures but have fallen on hard times due to the pandemic.
On Friday it was announced that more than £67m of the Heritage Fund is being shared out among 433 successful applicants from across England to help with key repair and maintenance work, and help sites operate and recover. Then earlier this week £257 million of funding was allocated to 1385 cultural sites who will also benefit.
A raft of famous sites across the country have been awarded funding including historical areas, buildings, monuments, collections, museums, archives and places of worship.
Robbie said: “These sites are such a major part of the heritage of the Keighley and Ilkley community and I am thrilled this money will help them weather the covid storm and be there for future generations to enjoy.
“Not only can we learn so much and gain so much insight from our heritage, but it also provides jobs and a boost for the local economy in many ways.
“And as we get through this unprecedented pandemic, places like The Worth Valley railway and the Ilkley Toy Museum and the tremendous work done there can undoubtedly play a part in our recovery. Huge credit must go to the Government for this invaluable support.”
The package of support is the first round of funding from the Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund. Today has also seen a dozen organisations, including English Heritage, the National Trust and the Canal and River Trust share £34 million from the Heritage Stimulus Fund to preserve visitor attractions.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past.
“This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post covid. I’m so pleased that we have been able to help save these sites in Keighley and Ilkley.”
