DASH Receives Lifeline Grant

DASH receives lifeline grant from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund

Disability Arts in Shropshire (DASH) has been awarded £70,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.

DASH is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.

DASH is a Disabled led visual arts charity. It creates opportunities for Disabled artists to develop their creative practice. These opportunities take many forms, from high quality commissions to community based workshops, the work it creates is centred around its vision and mission.

During the pandemic DASH have been working remotely supporting Disabled visual artists nationally through mentoring and funding advice, helping to shape their work and their applications for funding.

The majority of these artists are new to DASH and come from all areas of England, as well as Scotland, Wales and Europe.

With this funding DASH can increase the level of support to Disabled artists by employing freelance mentors.

Though our ability to deliver training has been impacted this funding will enable DASH to create a strong online programme which can be delivered more widely across the sector at a time of most need to support Disabled artists and audiences.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.

“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly

Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:
“Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”

Craig Ashley, Chair of DASH said: “This is fantastic news for DASH and the artists and curators we work with. Our team at DASH have barely stopped this year, responding the challenges brought about by the pandemic and supporting Disabled people who have been disproportionately affected. This announcement recognises the efforts of our team, and Arts Council’s ongoing commitment to diversifying the arts. This funding will enable us to reach more Disabled Artists, supporting them with mentoring and funding advice. It will give us much needed breathing space to secure our future and plan new programmes that respond effectively to the needs of Disabled artists. We would like to say a huge thank you to Arts Council England, DCMS and HM Treasury”​​​​​​​

ENDS

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk

Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of several bodies administering the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund and unprecedented support package of £1.57 for the culture and heritage sector. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19

For further information please email Paula Dower, Operations Director at DASH paula@dasharts.org