Royal Albert Hall welcomes 'encouraging' Goverment rescue package – but calls for 'urgent' reopening timeframe

All quiet: The Royal Albert Hall has been shut since lockdown began in March
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Jochan Embley6 July 2020

The Royal Albert Hall has welcomed the “very encouraging” announcement of a Government rescue package for the country’s arts sector — but said venues “urgently” need to know when they will be able to host live performance with audiences again.

The South Kensington venue rang alarm bells last week when it claimed it would go bust by its 150th anniversary in March next year without financial aid.

The Government has now unveiled the first details of a £1.57bn rescue package for performing arts venues such as theatres and concert halls, as well as independent cinemas and heritage sites.

Responding to the news, the Royal Albert Hall said in a statement: “The three things that we in the cultural sector have been asking for are an injection of cash into the industry while we’re unable to operate, an extension of the Job Retention Scheme and an indicative timeframe for re-opening venues, so that we can model with more certainty.

“This announcement promises the cash injection, and that’s a very encouraging sign – it shows that the government is listening to the sector and we hope that the application process will be as simple and quick as the JRS was.

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“We also urgently need to know when live performance with an audience might be possible, now that pubs, planes and cinemas are all open and [we] are pleased that government is finalising guidance for a phased return of the performing arts.

“The creative industries are a vital part of the UK economy – contributing £111bn in 2018, according to the government’s own figures – and while this is a very welcome first step, much more work is going to be needed to put the cultural sector back on its feet.”

The rescue package, which will consist of emergency grants and loans, was first promised by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden in an interview with the Standard.

The Government said: “Repayable finance (for the loans) will be issued on generous terms tailored for cultural institutions to ensure they are affordable.”

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