I WAS delighted this week to hear the Chancellor set out plans for the arts sector to receive £408 million in additional funding. This funding will support galleries, live music venues and theatres in reopening as the lockdown eases.

We now await information as to how this money will be accessed, but presumably it will be via the DCMS and Arts Council England application process as before.

The Chancellor's announcement of this additional funding is not just a further lifeline to our industry, but is also a vital signal/recognition from the Government of the vital place that culture will play in the country’s recovery.

This is a twofold recovery, economic and social/positive mental health engagement.

The ACE reported in April 2019 that the arts and cultural industry was contributing £10.8 billion to the UK economy; our industry will need time to recover and re-establish, rebuild audience confidence and refill diaries of bookings, whilst artists recover and remount tours.

The process will not be as quick or as simple as reopening doors and being back to a full operation and this has been recognised through this additional funding.

Worcester Live continues to actively offer opportunities for creative engagement, to aid in supporting good mental health through access to the arts during this challenging time.

Our Creative Winter Project/Culture Call projects run to the end of this month and our youth theatre is continuing weekly via online digital classes.

We continue to strive towards the time when our doors will reopen with live events, It is this social enjoyment of the arts that is vital for so many, some love football, to go to the pub, take long walks, to do it all! For those whose passion is culture we can’t wait to welcome you back to the Swan Theatre and Huntingdon Hall.