A local theatre is delighted to be benefitting from a new and lucrative national arts and culture fund.

The Rosehill Theatre in Moresby has received £176,807 as part two of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, announced on 2 April.

The funding will help the Grade II listed building to open up and run events again.

The funding was described as "fantastic news" by Rosehill’s executive director, Deanne Shallcross.

She said: "We love it when there’s a buzz around the building and we’ve missed that so much over the past year.

"These remain challenging times for everyone in the creative industry, and indeed others. We know there will have been difficult decisions to take when sharing out this funding and many will have been disappointed.

"Everyone at Rosehill is grateful for this further support from the Arts Council through the Government's Culture Recovery Fund."

The Arts Council have awarded £261 million to over 2000 arts organisations across the country as part two of the Government's Culture Recovery Fund.

The Rosehill Theatre is looking to welcome people back to socially distanced events, like live-streamed performances and community group meetings.

Deanne added: "We’ve worked hard behind the scenes and implemented lots of measures to help keep everyone safe. We can’t wait to reopen again."

More than £300 million has been awarded to over 2,700 recipients across the country in this latest round of Government support.

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."

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

Chair of Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, 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 reopen 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."

A £400 million pot was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed.

It has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.