Wigan arts hub gets major heritage funding boost

The Crawford Street culture centre has had to introduce major changes to its way of working since the novel coronavirus hit in spring.

The venue has developed live streaming events to replace public performances and also put together a team of volunteers who helped on the front line of the borough’s Covid-19 response, delivering food parcels and setting up a telephone line for those who were lonely or isolated.

That work has now been recognised as part of the £500m Heritage Emergency Fund, which is intended to support historic sites and landmarks with emergency needs as well as help organisations plan their recoveries.

Jonny Davenport, artistic director at Arts At The Mill CIC which runs The Old Courts, said: “Thanks to the National Lottery and its players we can now focus on positively impacting our community, embracing heritage and place-making with infinitely less existential worries.

“It has been a horrendous time for us prior to this support and we are eternally grateful for the difference it will make.

“We’re grateful that the National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time. It’s a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage and their community.”

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 of 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 The Old Courts during this uncertain time.”

Charities and organisations affected by the coronavirus outbreak are being given access to up to £600m in support packages from The National Lottery.

It is hoped this will support the arts, communities, heritage, education, the environment and sport.