Lowry the big winner among first Arts Everywhere allocations

The Salford venue will receive £8.5m as the government announced £127.8m of grants for 130 bidders nationally, the initial wave of schemes to be backed by the £1.5bn fund.

Place North West reported in September last year that the quarter-century old theatre and cultural venue was subject of an £8.5m bid from Arts Council England’s Creative Foundations Fund.

A report to Salford City Council’s cabinet described the funding as necessary for “urgent and critical infrastructure needs” with boilers, fire safety systems and replacing escalators with lifts among the projects required.

On the banks of the River Irwell, the People’s History Museum also received a notable funding slug, securing £2.5m.

The support packages committed today come from three funds that all come under the Arts Everywhere banner:

The Creative Foundations Fund (CFF) has allocated £96m to 74 arts and cultural venues to help theatres, performing arts venues, galleries and grassroots music venues address urgent infrastructure needs.

The Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) has allocated £25.5m to support 28 local museums to undertake vital infrastructure works, and improve the visitor experience.

The Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) has allocated £6.3m across 28 library services to help upgrade buildings and technology to better meet the needs of the community.

CFF North West recipients:

• Theatre Porto, Ellesmere Port – £139,000
• esea contemporary, Manchester – £359,100
• The Lowry Centre Trust – £8.5m
• Liverpool & Merseyside Theatres Trust – £999,999
• Blackburn with Darwen Council – £990,000
• Skylight Circus Arts, Rochdale – £125,990
• Octopus Collective, Barrow – £396,000

MEND North West recipients:

• Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool – £357,000
• People’s History Museom, Manchester – £2.5m
• Port Sunlight Village Trust – £499,999
• Lancaster City Museum – £94,056
• Bramall Hall, Stockport Museums – £1m
• Greater Manchester Transport Society – £244,000
• The Armitt Museum and Library, Ambleside – £238,098

LIF North West recipients:

• Manchester City Council – £52,942
• St Helens Council Library Service – £290,000
• Rochdale Council- £140,000

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “Across the country, people take real pride in where they come from. Our local arts, museums and libraries are a big part of that, telling our stories, reflecting who we are, and bringing communities together.

“That’s why our Arts Everywhere Fund matters. We’re backing the places people care about most, with support for 130 venues across the country announced today

“Arts and culture aren’t a luxury for a privileged few. They are for everyone, everywhere. They bring people together, open doors, and support our shared sense of belonging. That’s the role they can play as we build a stronger future for our country.”

At Blackpool’s Grundy, work will include replacement of ageing boilers, electrical improvements, structural wall and roof repairs and enhancements to environmental conditions needed to display major works safely, improvements vital to protecting both the listed structure and the gallery’s £5m art collection. The MEND cash is joined by £121,000 from the recent Pride in Place award.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council said: “This funding helps us protect the building and bring more world‑famous art to our town, so everyone can enjoy it. Having a Monet painting come to Blackpool shows just how far our cultural offer has grown and it’s great to see local people enjoying it for free, while community groups and schools are also taking part in having such a significant piece of culture on our doorstep.

“Our Blackpool culture is so varied. We are working hard to make sure that high-class art can be enjoyed in the same way that community arts, pop culture and entertainment heritage are all part of what makes our hometown special. It will form a large part of our bid to be UK City of Culture 2029, something that I’m keen the whole town gets behind and supports because it would be amazing for our town.”