FOUR DORSET organisations including the Regent Centre in Christchurch, have been given grants of up to £360K from the government as part of its Culture Recovery Fund.

Since August 2020, the Culture Recovery Fund has distributed £1.57 billion to around 5,000 organisations and sites across the country, giving a lifeline to theatres, museums, independent cinemas and many more cherished organisations around the country through the pandemic.

Hundreds of cultural organisations have received a share of a final £35 million emergency support package from the Culture Recovery Fund, to help overcome the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The final round of funding supported organisations through the latest challenges, in particular those affected by the Omicron variant this winter. It has kept organisations up and running so that they can continue to support jobs and contribute to local economies.

The Regent Centre in Christchurch recieved £196,670 worth of funding in the final round. 

Gary Trinder, chairman, Regent Centre, Christchurch said: “We are absolutely delighted to be the recipient of a further Culture Recovery Fund award from the DCMS, awarded through the British Film Institute of which we are members.

"The award provides ongoing certainty to operation of the Regent which is a registered Charity, meaning that after a sustained period of closure last year, we have reopened once again as a vibrant and healthy organisation, which would not have been the case without the award."

Three other Dorset organisations also won grants in previous rounds.

Stagecore Productions LTD based in Blandford Forum, which provides audio production and consultation to 17 stages at Glastonbury, was granted £25,000.

A spokesperson from Stagecore said: "We are pleased to announce that we are the grateful recipients of The Culture Recovery Grant.

"This funding will allow us to continue providing educational opportunities for students at The Artori Academy and to keep us running until we can get back on the road and into a field."

IMAG, a virtual production and LED screen hire company based in Poole was given £369,000 and Mapperton Estate, a family home and estate near Beaminster in West Dorset was granted £51,000.

The record-breaking fund has helped the country’s precious arts, heritage and culture through the pandemic, backing world-renowned names such as Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom, Glastonbury Festival and the National Theatre.