“The British government has unveiled a £1.57 billion ($1.96 billion) lifeline for the country’s beleaguered arts and culture sector, including theaters and independent cinemas,” writes Alex Ritman in Sunday’s (7/5) Hollywood Reporter. “The rescue package—announced Sunday evening—comes amid a renewed call for help from the British arts industry, which has been pushed to the brink by the coronavirus pandemic, with many famed venues facing closure and thousands of workers already having lost their jobs. Unions and industry bodies had been lobbying the government for months, with the arts sector among those to have received minimal support so far. The new deal includes £880 million ($1 billion) in grants for the financial year to April 2021, a package that will be shared between theaters, music venues, heritage sites, museums, galleries and independent cinemas. The government is also offering £270 million ($336 million) in repayable loans.… Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, ‘This money will help safeguard the sector for future generations, ensuring arts groups and venues across the UK can stay afloat and support their staff whilst their doors remain closed and curtains remain down.’… In excess of 350,000 people have been furloughed … The sector employs a workforce estimated at 700,000.”
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