LIFELINE cash from the Government Culture Recovery Fund will help breathe new life into the dale's village halls during the coming months.
The Highlights Rural Touring Scheme, which works with army of volunteers at village halls across the dale, as well as Cumbria and Northumberland, to bring eclectic range of top performers to small venues, has received £28,733 to help it bounce back from Covid restrictions.
Kate Lynch, director of Highlights, said: “We may not have been able to tour artists to rural communities in the last 12 months, but we have continued to financially support them through this challenging time.
“We have also found new and exciting ways of engaging with our rural communities.
“This grant will enable us to support live events once again from this summer onwards; to work with our volunteer promoters and play our part in reviving culture in Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland.”
The cash will help fund the forthcoming touring programme, employing freelance artists and subsidising performances and workshops.
It will also enable volunteer promoters access professional support and training.
The new Highlights season starts at Mickleton Village Hall on Saturday, May 22, with an origami workshop led by artists Cabinet of Curiosity.
A full programme of shows and events continues until July 18. Details are available at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk.
Meanwhile, Richmond’s Georgian Theatre Royal has received £26,200 from the recovery fund.
Like many other performing arts venues, The Georgian Theatre Royal has been closed for live performances since March 2020 but hopes to launch its autumn season in September, with guided tours starting mid-May.
The latest cash comes on top of £52,960 received during the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund in October last year and will continue to support the Theatre’s overheads – normally covered by income from ticket sales and other activities – as well as facilitating plans for a successful re-opening.
Chief executive Clare Allen said: “We are extremely grateful for this very timely injection of funding.
“The theatre has been incredibly fortunate to receive a number of generous grants and donations during the past 12 months but these have largely been for specific projects or capital works.
“The latest grant will help cover day-to-day running costs as well as kick-starting our cultural activities in the months ahead.”
During its closure the theatre has embarked on an a
uditorium development programme to provide more comfortable seating and improved views of the stage.
“We are really looking forward to the time when we can welcome back visitors, first for tours and then soon after for live performances. There will be so much to see and enjoy, all in a safe and comfortable environment,” said Ms Allen.
“Many people and organisations have supported this amazing little theatre and we can feel very optimistic about its future.
“It has been in existence since 1788 and hopefully it can now continue to serve its community for many decades to come,” she added.
