The National Lottery Heritage Fund is helping these much-loved venues to reduce the adverse impact of COVID-19. The Fund has granted the Theatres £119,900.
The theatre company has lost 99% of its income since closing all doors on 17 March this year, and 96% of staff were furloughed.
Chris Blythe, CEO, said: “Since our venues ceased trading due to the pandemic we have been doing everything we can to ensure our survival throughout this period, as well as prepare for the economic uncertainty that will follow, including drawing on our reserves which we had planned to invest back into our three heritage buildings.
This grant is a lifeline, and whilst it won’t quite see us out of the woods (we are waiting to hear if we have been successful in our bid for emergency funding from the government), we’re hugely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting us at this crucial time. It’s invaluable to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all.”
The money will be put to good use – it will be spent on PPE, appropriate signage and the general costs involved with re-opening the three venues.
Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.
Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Leeds Heritage Theatres during this uncertain time.”
Charities and other organisations in the UK are able to benefit from £600 million of National Lottery payments, supporting vulnerable people in communities, the arts, heritage, education, the environment and sport.
Feature photograph provided by Leeds Heritage Theatres.