NINE organisations across the Black Country have been awarded cash from the government’s culture recovery fund.

Over £890,000 has been granted through the Arts Council to support arts organisations, venues, theatres, and performance groups across the region to reopen and recover.

Katie Fitzgerald’s (MKM Events CIC) in Stourbridge has been awarded £30,000.

Katie Fitzgerald’s is a live music and performance venue which has been a platform for new music, art and comedy for more than 20 years, bringing creativity to communities in Stourbridge.

This funding will to help cover operational costs and rebuild reserves, ensuring they can retain their team of staff and invest in more diverse cultural programming.

Other organisations to recieve funding include:

  • Sandwell & Birmingham Mela - £46,000
  • Black Country Dance Hub - £25,000
  • Creative Academies - £94,812
  • The People’s Orchestra - £23,130
  • Wolverhampton Grand Theatre - £410,805

Culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, said culture should be accessible for everyone. She said: “Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.”

Peter Knott, midlands area director at Arts Council England said: “Building upon investment made in previous rounds of the Culture Recovery Fund, we’re delighted further support has been awarded to a wide range of arts and cultural organisations across the Midlands – this means that community projects, theatres, galleries, museums, clubs, music venues, festivals, key cultural suppliers along with other creative spaces and projects can continue playing their part in helping the country to recover.”