We’ve Received Life Saving Cultural Recovery Fund

We are relieved and extremely grateful to be among over 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund at such a critical time in the charity’s 37-year history.

This award is vital for the stability of the organisation; ensuring we can continue our role as a welcoming cultural hub for our local community in the heart of Southwark.

The grant will enable the reopening of both galleries, welcoming back neighbours and local communities who have been sorely missed these past 12 months; maintaining the continued support of artists and cultural practitioners of all backgrounds with a supportive test-site for ambitious, creative experimentation.

The funds will vitally reinvigorate the organisation’s fundraising strategy, providing a timely boost to our small, passionate team. This injection jumpstarts the charity’s ability to diversify our post-pandemic core income plans.

Extra training afforded by the grant will support all strands of the team and Board to deliver what we do better and to even broader communities across the borough and beyond. We will continue to work with our neighbours, artists and peers to reduce barriers to culture and the broader sector, together.

Judith Carlton, Director of Southwark Park Galleries said:
“Our Board, wonderful team and I are over the moon to have been supported at this extremely difficult time. The funds will crucially support our small team to rebuild our resilience in such a way that would otherwise have been impossible. We can at last start to build towards a stronger future and the continuation of our core mission: to promote the fullest inclusion in culture and creativity for all through the provision of free and meaningful free activity, representing national excellence but crucially always locally relevant.

I am incredibly proud of how driven our team has been in working together to weather this almighty storm, supported by our fantastic Board, persevering to this point where finally we are able to start looking forward to a joyful programme. We wish to express our wholehearted gratitude to the DCMS and Arts Council England for valuing our work in this way.

We are excited to reopen the galleries on May 19 with a major new commission by Welsh artist Bedwyr Williams across both sites, accompanied by a new publication of Williams’ infamous drawings; developed in partnership with our friends at Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham and Aberystwyth Arts Centre. We can’t wait to welcome our visitors back to the galleries in the park again this spring.”

Kirsten Dunne, Chair, The Bermondsey Artists’ Group said:
“Over the past year it has become increasingly clear how important arts and culture are for people’s mental health and daily wellbeing, with 61% of us taking creative activities during lockdown. Support for artists to explore and develop new ideas has been central to our mission since 1984, so we are absolutely delighted that this support has been recognised through this award. During lockdown it has been so brilliant to see so many local people and families enjoying and exploring our park. This funding will help us extend our offer to all visitors to the park and to London itself as the UK begins to reopen this spring.”

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:
“Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced. Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said:
“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work. We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”

The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot, which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.

Southwark Park Galleries (managed by The Bermondsey Artists’ Group) in Southwark, South East London has received a grant of £82,959 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Southwark Park Galleries in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.