MUSEUMS and theatres across the county are to receive an influx of cash to help them recover and reopen once coronavirus restrictions ease.

Several cultural institutions throughout Oxfordshire are set to receive grants as part of the second round of the Government’s £1.7 billion Cultural Recovery Fund.

More than £300 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country in the latest round of support, the Culture Secretary announced yesterday evening.

Read here: Filmgoers 'extremely sad' over cinema closure

The Oxford Playhouse, on Beaumont Street, has been awarded a grant of over £1 million to help it reopen on May 28.

Louise Chantal and Vanessa Lefrancois, joint Directors Oxford Playhouse said: “We are thrilled and incredibly thankful to receive this significant grant from the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund. 

“The last year has been unparalleled in terms of the challenges the arts sector has faced. 

“ We have reflected and refined our strategy for moving forward to allow us to build back stronger.”

Oxford University’s museums will receive £640k from the fund to help aid recovery of the Ashmolean Museum, the History of Science Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Pitt Rivers Museum.

The grant will help the four museums to reopen later in the spring and develop commercial activities to help strengthen their financial resilience.

Read also: Plans for more LTNs in Oxford - and residents show overwhelming support

The University will also use the money to grow its digital capacity and infrastructure.

Performing arts theatre, Pegasus in East Oxford, that provides creative opportunities for children and young people, is set to receive £20,000 from the recovery fund.

This support will help the theatre over the coming months as it re-opens its building for drama and street dance classes in preparation for a full programme on stage in autumn.

Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, said:  "I am delighted that Pegasus has been awarded a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund.

“The theatre does a huge amount to provide cultural opportunity across Oxford.

“They always have so much on offer and they will do a great deal to support local children and young people who have had such a hard time recently."

The Unicorn Theatre and the Abbey Cinema, off Checker Walk, based in Abingdon will also be receiving a grant of £197,917. 

Other independent cinemas will also be receiving funding, including The Ultimate Picture Palace, on Jeune Street.

Oxfordshire’s River and Rowing Museum, in Henley on Thames, will also be receiving £152,071 to help its reopening on May 20 and to adapt to the post-Covid environment.

Over the pandemic, the riverside museum saw a 60 per cent income drop compared to previous years.

Read here: Locals praise 'life changing' LTNs in latest meeting 

Xa Sturgis, Director of the Ashmolean Museum, said: “On behalf of all Oxford University’s museums, we are extremely grateful to the Government and to Arts Council England for their support.

“The grant from the Cultural Recovery Fund will make a significant difference to our work.

“It will allow us to invest in areas that are important for our audiences and communities and to develop our commercial capacity as we emerge from the pandemic.

"The last year has been challenging for so many cultural institutions but these funds will help us to move forward with optimism.”  

Read here: Memorial benches for Sir Captain Tom Moore and PC Harper to be placed in park

More than £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.

This second round of grants will help organisations reopen and recover in the spring and summer months, after a year of closures and cancellations.

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."