Preston's Caribbean Carnival amongst arts events getting funding to survive Covid-19 crisis

The Caribbean Carnival has been Preston's most colourful event since the 1970s.

Arts Council England has handed out almost £800,000 to individuals and groups across the county from a £160m Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund.

Preston’s Caribbean Carnival, postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic, is one of 120 schemes supported in Lancashire. It gets £10,000 towards basic running costs to make sure it can survive until next year.

Six other groups in the city also benefit, including £12,000 for the New Continental pub, which is now a recognised venue for music, films and other cultural events.

Blue Moose Dance Company in Cottam gets almost £18,000, the city’s Brookfield Spaceplace is awarded £15,190, the Derelict arts group receives £11,151, Initiate Theatre gets a grant of £3,900 and the They Eat Culture project is given £32,280.

The emergency response package is designed to help alleviate the immediate pressures faced by artists, organisations, museums, and libraries during the crisis, affording them time to stabilise and plan for the future.

“Lancashire has an exciting cultural scene thanks to many individuals and organisations who make the county their home,” said Catherine Mitchell, north director for Arts Council England.

“The work they create helps to contribute to the vibrant cultural landscape across the county and North West.

I’m pleased we’ve been able to support many of them in this unprecedented time. I hope that our funding will enable them to tackle the immediate challenges that they face during this pandemic.”

Carol Nevins, from the Caribbean Carnival, said: “We are very pleased that Arts Council England have granted us this fund and thank them for this lifeline.

“The grant will allow us to survive this year so will pay for rent, electricity, bank charges, etc. until fundraising activities can be resumed.

"The grant will also be used planning and development of the charity and so we are looking to develop a five-year plan that will include the 50th anniversary of carnival in Preston in the year 2024.

"This fund is in addition to the One Park Living Legends grant (from the Arts Council) which has been postponed until 2021.”