Covid culture fund to help dozens of Islington venues

The popular Almeida Theatre will get close to £300k

Over four dozen organisations across the borough are to receive support from the second round of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

The grants to 51 Islington groups, totalling £6,602,918, are designed to help theatres, galleries and other arts initiatives to get back on their feet following months of Covid lockdown restrictions.

Well-known venues across the borough are set to benefit from the scheme.

A grant of £66,652 has been awarded to Union Chapel Project, a Grade I listed Gothic building and a unique multi award-winning performing arts venue. Funding will enable Union Chapel to continue a programme of live-stream ticketed events – including one with singer songwriter Celeste – and to provide accessible cultural events for their local community including vulnerable families and LGBTQIA+ people.

Michael Chandler, CEO of Union Chapel Project, said: “We are delighted and hugely relieved that we were successful in securing Culture Recovery Fund Round 2. The funds will go towards helping keep Union Chapel solvent through these ongoing challenging and uncertain times – which helps us continue our vital support and creative programmes for our communities, and we hope towards being able to open again for audiences some time in 2021.”

Stages across Islington will also be nursed back into action with the help of the fund. The Almeida Theatre will receive £287,000; the National Youth Theatre will get £302,250, a total of £155,985 has been given to the King’s Head Theatre, the Park Theatre has been granted £125,000, the Little Angel Theatre will benefit from £177,500, and £124,500 is set to go to the Pleasance Theatre.

Other Islington groups that will be awarded funds include Angel Comedy, King’s Place, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.