King's Lynn museum and charity to receive vital support from Culture Recovery Fund

A Lynn museum and an independent charity are among the beneficiaries of the government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

True's Yard Fisherfolk Museum and The Garage Trust, which operates The Workshop on New Conduit Street, join Hunstanton's Princess Theatre and more than 440 heritage organisations across the country which are set to receive a lifesaving financial boost.

With a £650,000 shortfall being reported by the independent charity's boss due to the coronavirus, the cash support is being welcomed ahead of the challenging winter months.

The museum has been awarded £30,600 which will help towards essential running costs such as staffing, heating, lighting and PPE to keep the Museum open throughout the winter which has been described as "precarious times" for independent attractions.

And The Garage Trust will receive £75,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund.

Dr Paul Richards, chairman of the North End Trust said: “At True’s Yard we are grateful to the government’s Culture Recovery Fund for a generous grant which will help us to overcome the challenges of the next six months.

"At the heart of the museum is the last fisherfolk yard with cottages in the historic North End of King’s Lynn.

"True’s Yard is a heritage site and community museum which attracts schools, tourists and townspeople who come to learn, meet and enjoy our cottages, exhibitions, talks and facilities.

"In 2021 the Museum celebrates 30 years of maintaining a rich sense of local identity and pride of place which was almost lost to King’s Lynn.”

This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund - funded by government and administered at arm’s length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Both funds are part of the Culture Recovery Fund which is designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

The Garage Trust was one of 22 Arts organisations across Norfolk and Waveney who successfully applied for grants in the first round of funding.

Adam Taylor, The Garage Trust’s executive director and head of centre, said: “The Garage Trust, the place for performing arts in Norfolk, is over the moon to receive £75,000 from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

“We lost £650,000 of income, about 50 per cent of our total income and this grant is so important to us. It helps sustain our organisation into the next year and supports for our work with artists, audiences, performing arts tutors and most importantly our participants and students at our sites in Norwich and King’s Lynn.

“It is extremely humbling to know we have been successful in this award and that we get to continue our work in future years for our beneficiaries.”

The Garage Trust is an independent charity established in 2002 which seeks to provide opportunities for all ages, particularly those that are disadvantaged, vulnerable or with the fewest opportunities.