£1.57 billion lifeline for the cultural sector announced at last

After weeks of sustained campaigning from across the creative industries, warning the government of unsustainable losses threatening the future of perhaps 70% of theatres in the country – with speculation that as many as that may not survive even until Christmas – the announcement has been broadly welcomed by organisations who will now, Boris Johnson said, be able to ‘stay afloat and support their staff’ while unable to generate revenue from audiences.

Johnson spoke of the UK’s creative industries as ‘the heart of this country,’ a long hoped-for piece of recognition, and the package of investment will be available mostly in the form of emergency grants for ‘the performing arts and theatres, heritage, historic palaces, museums, galleries, live music and independent cinema.’ As well as these emergency grants, repayable loans and other forms of support will also be offered.