fabric receives £1.5 million from Arts Council England
The world-famous nightclub was one of 35 organisations awarded grants of between £1 and £3 million, joining institutions like Sadler’s Wells, Shakespeare’s Globe and the English National Ballet. Unlike in previous rounds of Arts Council England grants, around 70 percent of the £75 million total was given to organisations outside of London.
“The cultural recovery fund will be a vital lifeline for us, particularly as we expect to be unable to open for regular club events for the foreseeable future,” reads a statement from fabric. “The latest developments suggest that hosting reduced activities will be our best case scenario for at least the next six months. With this in mind, part of the grant will be used to secure the survival of the venue, including covering rent, critical maintenance and introducing COVID-secure infrastructure to ensure that we can bring people together safely when we reopen.”
fabric is the latest electronic music organisation to receive support from the UK government’s cultural recovery fund. Corsica Studios, Motion Bristol, Crack Magazine and Glastonbury’s Block9 all received grants in previous rounds, as did Resident Advisor, which you can read more about here.
Many organisations were unsuccessful, including London super club Printworks, whose application included other venues operated under the Broadwick Live umbrella, such as The Drumsheds and Depot Mayfield in Manchester. The team posted a statement today.
“We pride ourselves on being a brand that upholds the importance of music and culture in the lives of so many,” reads the statement. “For the past four years, Printworks has provided a platform for countless artists, both established and emerging, bringing unforgettable experiences to the thousands of music fans we have had the pleasure of inviting through our doors.”
The last round of grants takes the total amount allocated to around £500 million, according to the Department For Digital, Culture, Media And Sport. Earlier this month, Arts Council England announced an additional £18 million fund for DJs, performers and other professionals in the cultural industries.
Click here for the full list of successful applicants.
