Welcome to the July edition of Ensemble. I hope you’re all staying safe and keeping well.

We start with the very welcome news that Britain’s globally renowned arts, culture and heritage industries will receive a £1.57 billion rescue package to help weather the impact of COVID-19. The government announced the news on Sunday and it should come as a huge relief for the thousands of people working in our sector following weeks of campaigning and lobbying. This commitment, the largest ever one-off investment in UK culture, will hopefully be good news for the theatre industry and provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic.

Thousands of organisations across a range of sectors including the performing arts and theatres, heritage, historic palaces, museums, galleries, live music and independent cinema will be able to access emergency grants and loans. The investment will help them stay afloat while their doors are closed. Funding to restart paused projects will also help support employment, including freelancers working in these sectors.  

Many of Britain’s cultural and heritage institutions have already received unprecedented financial assistance to see them through the pandemic including loans, business rate holidays and participation in the coronavirus job retention scheme. More than 350,000 people in the recreation and leisure sector have been furloughed since the pandemic began, including of course, many of our colleagues across TE.

It was really lovely to read last month’s Furlough Diaries in Ensemble and so I’m delighted to say that we get a chance to catch up with more of our furloughed colleagues in this edition.

Until next time, keep talking, stay connected and take care of yourselves.
Sending you all my very best wishes
Rosemary