A WHITEHAVEN theatre is delighted to have been awarded £176,807, as one of the recipients of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

It is one of nine organisations across Cumbria which will benefit from the third round of grants. Other recipients include Tullie House in Carlisle and, in Keswick - the museum and Theatre by the Lake.

Rosehill Theatre has a rich and varied programme of music, theatre, comedy, film, spoken word and craft workshops enjoyed by the local community.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced on Friday (November 19) that 925 cultural and creative organisations nationally are to receive a share of £107 million in grants and loans as part of a vital financial boost from the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.

This includes more than £100 million, which has been awarded in grants through Arts Council England, Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.

Deanne Shallcross, executive director of Rosehill Theatre, said: "The Culture Recovery Fund has been a lifeline for Rosehill and we are hugely grateful to DCMS and Arts Council England for their continued support.

"Without doubt they have helped save our community asset by steering us towards financial viability throughout significant, ongoing challenges.

"Our cumulative total of almost £560,000 from three rounds of the Culture Recovery Fund and £117,500 from the Emergency Response Fund has enabled us to get back up and running, continue delivering a variety of creative experiences to the West Cumbria community and develop plans for the longer term.

"We feel incredibly fortunate to still be here as without the Culture Recovery Fund we would have been in a very different position."

Tullie House, the largest museum in Cumbria, has been awarded £153,792. It cares for a collection of 500,000 plus objects including history, fine art and a designated natural science collection which they use to share, connect and inspire residents and visitors.

Cumbria Theatre Trust (Theatre by the Lake, Keswick) has been give £135,000. Keswick Museum & Art Gallery Management Ltd have been awared £77,400.

Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries, said: “Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from.

“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.”