Buxton Opera House and Buxton International Festival given government funding to ensure survival
and live on Freeview channel 276
The theatre says the £530,643 share in the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund will help them welcome people back to a Covid-secure environment - maintaining financial stability.
Funding worth £257 million announced this week is the first round of the scheme and Buxton Opera House is one of 1,385 organisations across the country receiving support.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The money comes following months of hand wringing for the High Peak venue.
In June the theatre company which has brought pantos to Buxton since the 90s - Scene 3 Creative - announced the cancellation of this year’s Aladdin production.
Though at the time Opera House CEO Paul Kerryson said ‘as far as Aladdin goes we’re still hoping to see it staged’.
Then last month Paul told how High Peak Theatre Trust - who oversee the venue - had ‘commenced a consultation period with our permanent staff team’.
Advertisement
He added: “Due to the Coronavirus pandemic Buxton Opera House has been closed since March 23.”
Advertisement
Reacting to this week’s announcement Paul said: “The grant announced today is most welcome and provides a life-line in these challenging times and is a strong signal of confidence in this vital cultural resource.
“Buxton Opera House is a much-loved and vital part of the cultural fabric of the High Peak area with a significant and positive all year impact on the local economy.
“An eclectic programme includes the Buxton International Festival, a wide-reaching community and engagement programme and a host of visiting companies and artists.”
Advertisement
Alongside the Opera House Buxton International Festival received £101,895 from the fund.
The festival - which has been running for 40 years - was set to go ahead between July 3-19 however it was cancelled in March.
Advertisement
Trustees said at the time that with authors and musicians increasingly unable to travel they could not deliver a festival ‘of the quality you expect’.
High Peak MP Robert Largan said he was ‘delighted’ about the two awards - totalling over £630,000.
Advertisement
He said: “I’ve been lobbying hard to secure support for our local arts and I’m really pleased to have helped secure this vital funding.”