Ceramics Studio Co-op to receive a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund

Ceramics Studio Co-op to receive a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund

• Ceramics Studio Co-op among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund 
• This award will help Ceramics Studio Co-op rebuild a healthy economy in the studio.

Ceramics Studio Co-op in New Cross, London has received a grant of £ 42 865 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 Ceramics Studio Co-op in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

Ceramics Studio Co-op is an artist- run worker’s cooperative founded in 2014 in South London in response to the lack of quality ceramics workshops accessible to new makers, and to create an ethical employment for artists.

This award will help rebuild a healthy economy in the studio. Ceramics Studio Co-op will carry on running pottery classes, provide open-access workshop for hobby potters and sculptors, continue kiln firings and maintain studio space services for ceramics artists.

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. 

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.”

Anna Baskakova, Co-director, Ceramics Studio Co-op said:

“We are delighted and welcome this support from Arts Council England. This year we faced many challenges, the grant will help us keep our doors open for everyone. The recognition of the importance of the work we are doing here in Lewisham shows ceramics is a valued field for the arts.”

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.  

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 the bodies administering the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19.

At the Budget, the Chancellor announced the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund would be boosted with a further £300 million investment. Details of this third round of funding will be announced soon.